Men's Perceptions and Awareness of Gender-Based Violence: Evidence from Madukani Ward, Dodoma City, Tanzania

Gender-based violence (GBV) has predominantly been studied as a problem affecting women and girls, leaving men's own perceptions of violence comparatively invisible in research, policy and service provision. This study examined men's perceptions and awareness of GBV in Madukani Ward, Dodoma City, Tanzania. A qualitative exploratory design informed by a phenomenological approach was adopted. Twenty participants were purposively selected: fifteen men residing in the ward and five key informants from ward administration, religious leadership, the police Gender and Children's Desk and the One-Stop Centre. Data were generated through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions and analysed thematically. Most men understood GBV mainly as physical violence against women, particularly wife-beating, while emotional, psychological, economic and sexual abuse were rarely recognised and were often normalised as ordinary marital disagreements. Men were seldom recognised as potential victims, and the boundary between marital conflict and violence was blurred. Interpreted through Hegemonic Masculinity Theory, these findings show that dominant ideals of male strength, endurance and household authority narrow what men count as violence and render male victimisation invisible. The study concludes that physically centred, female-victim-focused understandings of GBV limit men's recognition of the full spectrum of gender-based harm. It recommends community education that broadens men's understanding of GBV and gender-transformative interventions that engage men as potential perpetrators, victims, witnesses and partners in prevention.