| dc.description.abstract | Recognizing sexual violence as a hindrance to development is
particularly important for addressing the social, cultural and economic
arrangements that inhibit or suppress the realization of human rights.
For violence costs development: - it depletes resources and its impact
luay be measured in terms of costs and efficiency.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of sexual
violence a1110ng boys in Nairobi, specifically to explore the extent to
which boys in Nairobi are sexually violated, to find out who are most
likel y to be the perpetra tors of sexual violence among boys and to
explore factors that influence silence ampng boys when they are ~
sexually violated. Th8f':~",-aata collection •. methods used were
questionnaires, key informant interviews as well as Focus Group
Discussions. A sample of two hundred and forty (240) students from
four (4) urban high schools, in, Nairobi were nandornly selected for the
administration of the questionnaires. The Questionnaires were also
administered to a purp,osively selected sample of twenty (20)
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University students. Four (4) guidance and counselling teachers, three
(3) family counsellors and two (2) media houses were purposively
selected and interviewed. Finally two (2) Focus Group Discussions
were also conducted in two of the previously selected urban high
schools.
To guide the study, objectives and research questions were formulated,
the research was conducted and the data was thereafter analyzed and
presen~fd using pie charts and tables.
The study confirmed that despite the silence that surrounds sexual
violation an10ng boys, the boy child significantly suffers from sexual
violence. The boy child has been left unattended and is therefore an
endangered species as much concentration has been on the girl child.
The study also revealed that the culture of silence is also very prevalent
an10ng boys and the patriarchal system only perpetuates silence and
hinders the ability of boys to report incidences of sexual violence.
The society needs to decode the n1essage that lithe vast majority of
victims of sexual assaultjarc women and or girls". Implicit in this
message is the suggestion that the "others" the victims who do not
constitute the majority, simply don't count. The recommendations for
the study include; the need t; sensitize young boys on sexual violence,
seek to re-orient them on the'need to open up on all forms of sexual
abuse and demand for justice if they experience any incidence of sexual
violence. There is also 'need to encourage debate and dialogues on
sexuality and masculinity within the institutions of learning and the
country at large. | en |
