Relationship between Categories of Masculinities and Incidences of Family Crises in Modern Family: A Case of Selected Faith-Based Organisations in Bahati Sub-County, Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

Globally, the modern family is faced by incidences of family crises which include Gender Based Violence (GBV), separation and divorce, alcohol and substance abuse, neglect of family responsibilities and mental breakdown. While numerous suggestions have been offered as to why this is the case, a growing body of literature links negative masculinities with the incidences of family crises. In response to this, some Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) have begun working with men as a way of transforming masculinities. This study used Kenya Anglican Men Association (KAMA) and Presbyterian Church Men Fellowship (PCMF) as selected FBOs to explore the relationship between categories of masculinities and incidences of family crises in Bahati Sub-County, Nakuru County. The study was guided by Connell theory of masculinity which conceives that the relationships among male individuals consist of four categories of masculinity: hegemonic, subordinate, complicit and marginalized. Stratified random sampling procedure was used to obtain a total sample size of 209 participants. Data was collected through a questionnaire, interviews and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) schedules. Descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically ordered logistic regression were used for analysis, with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for windows. Descriptive statistics included frequency tables, charts and mean scores. Findings of the study established that categories of masculinities have a positive and significant relationship with incidences of family crises. In this regard the study recommends that there is need of transforming masculinities especially by FBOs, institutions of learning and family.

Globally, the modern family is faced by incidences of family crises which include Gender Based Violence (GBV), separation and divorce, alcohol and substance abuse, neglect of family responsibilities and mental breakdown. While numerous suggestions have been offered as to why this is the case, a growing body of literature links negative masculinities with the incidences of family crises. In response to this, some Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs) have begun working with men as a way of transforming masculinities. This study used Kenya Anglican Men Association (KAMA) and Presbyterian Church Men Fellowship (PCMF) as selected FBOs to explore the relationship between categories of masculinities and incidences of family crises in Bahati Sub-County, Nakuru County. The study was guided by Connell theory of masculinity which conceives that the relationships among male individuals consist of four categories of masculinity: hegemonic, subordinate, complicit and marginalized. Stratified random sampling procedure was used to obtain a total sample size of 209 participants. Data was collected through a questionnaire, interviews and Focused Group Discussion (FGD) schedules. Descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically ordered logistic regression were used for analysis, with the help of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 for windows. Descriptive statistics included frequency tables, charts and mean scores. Findings of the study established that categories of masculinities have a positive and significant relationship with incidences of family crises. In this regard the study recommends that there is need of transforming masculinities especially by FBOs, institutions of learning and family.