"I am no longer a real man": Effects of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Against Men in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(2025) FKVK02 20251Department of Political Science
- Abstract
- Conflict-related sexual violence against men occurs more frequently than often assumed, yet academic research and policy papers from international organizations tend to overlook male victims. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this limited knowledge by analyzing the effects of conflict-related sexual violence against men through a case study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country in which such violence has been widespread. Scholars deem that conflict-related sexual violence is influenced by notions of power and dominance, themes which are inherent in masculinity. This study applies a theoretical framework consisting of hegemonic masculinity theory and the understanding of conflict-related sexual violence as an... (More)
- Conflict-related sexual violence against men occurs more frequently than often assumed, yet academic research and policy papers from international organizations tend to overlook male victims. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this limited knowledge by analyzing the effects of conflict-related sexual violence against men through a case study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country in which such violence has been widespread. Scholars deem that conflict-related sexual violence is influenced by notions of power and dominance, themes which are inherent in masculinity. This study applies a theoretical framework consisting of hegemonic masculinity theory and the understanding of conflict-related sexual violence as an expression of masculinity to explore how gender norms may impact the effects of conflict-related sexual violence. Using thematic analysis, the study identifies four themes and nine sub-themes of the effects of conflict-related sexual violence from empirical and theoretical material, including victims’ testimonies. The findings of the study suggest that the effects of conflict-related sexual violence against men are physical, psychological and social suffering, affecting individuals, families, and broader societies. Moreover, the findings suggest that conflict-related sexual violence against men results in feelings of diminished masculinity for victims, stemming from strong gender norms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which correlate victimhood with femininity. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9191111
- author
- Lovängen, Matilda LU and Carlstein, Filippa LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- FKVK02 20251
- year
- 2025
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- Conflict-related sexual violence, male victims, masculinity, gender, Democratic Repbulic of the Congo
- language
- English
- id
- 9191111
- date added to LUP
- 2025-08-08 11:23:25
- date last changed
- 2025-08-08 11:23:25
@misc{9191111,
abstract = {{Conflict-related sexual violence against men occurs more frequently than often assumed, yet academic research and policy papers from international organizations tend to overlook male victims. The purpose of this study is to contribute to this limited knowledge by analyzing the effects of conflict-related sexual violence against men through a case study of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a country in which such violence has been widespread. Scholars deem that conflict-related sexual violence is influenced by notions of power and dominance, themes which are inherent in masculinity. This study applies a theoretical framework consisting of hegemonic masculinity theory and the understanding of conflict-related sexual violence as an expression of masculinity to explore how gender norms may impact the effects of conflict-related sexual violence. Using thematic analysis, the study identifies four themes and nine sub-themes of the effects of conflict-related sexual violence from empirical and theoretical material, including victims’ testimonies. The findings of the study suggest that the effects of conflict-related sexual violence against men are physical, psychological and social suffering, affecting individuals, families, and broader societies. Moreover, the findings suggest that conflict-related sexual violence against men results in feelings of diminished masculinity for victims, stemming from strong gender norms in the Democratic Republic of the Congo which correlate victimhood with femininity.}},
author = {{Lovängen, Matilda and Carlstein, Filippa}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{"I am no longer a real man": Effects of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Against Men in the Democratic Republic of the Congo}},
year = {{2025}},
}