Hegemonic masculinity and intimate partner abuse: A qualitative psychological study.

Abstract

The year 1994 has important historical meaning for South African citizens. The 1994 election marked the beginning of a new nation and a time of freedom and democracy. As part of the change to a democratic society, the rights to gender equality and women's rights were incorporated in the development of the new constitution. However, although our constitution provides a clause on women's fundamental rights, women abuse is still a pervasive problem of enormous magnitude in South Africa. South Africa has a strongly entrenched patriarchal system, which makes men in terms of gender dominant and women subordinate.