As Botswana’s economy falters, the long-standing expectation that men must serve as providers is colliding head-on with unforgiving economic realities. Rising unemployment, underemployment, and dwindling incomes have rendered many men financially incapacitated and socially burdened. Experts warn that this mounting pressure is fueling toxic masculinity, intensifying gender-based violence, and exacerbating mental health challenges.
With the global demand for diamonds, the cornerstone of Botswana’s economy;waning, coupled with soaring unemployment, government budget constraints, and persistent inflation, countless men find themselves without stable employment or trapped in precarious work. This economic strain, specialists argue, is manifesting in destructive forms of masculinity, including acts of violence, substance abuse, and psychological distress. A confidential source who contributed to this report highlighted the profound impact of these harsh conditions on men’s ability to fulfill traditional provider roles.
“There is simply no money in people’s pockets. Men who are unemployed or running small businesses are struggling because payments are delayed or never made at all. That means families go without food, transport, or basic services, and men internalise this failure,” the source revealed.
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The source emphasized that in Botswana, masculinity has historically been intertwined with economic provision, authority, and control within the family. When men fail to uphold these roles, they often experience deep frustration and shame. “The pressure does not disappear just because the economy is bad.
Instead, it turns inward or outward in destructive ways,” the source explained. Research by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) underscores the strong correlation between economic insecurity and stress-induced behaviours among men, particularly in cultures where masculinity is closely linked to financial success. Similarly, the World Bank has documented that prolonged unemployment among men is associated with heightened household conflict, social withdrawal, and risky coping strategies.
Botswana mirrors these global trends. Financial hardship and joblessness have been linked to a surge in gender-based violence (GBV), substance misuse, and depression. While GBV primarily affects women and girls, the perpetrators are overwhelmingly male, a phenomenon researchers attribute to feelings of powerlessness and economic frustration rather than innate violent tendencies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has observed that economic stress significantly raises the risk of harmful alcohol and drug use among men, especially in societies where expressing emotional vulnerability is discouraged. “Men are less likely to seek help when they are struggling,” the WHO noted. Moreover, the WHO pointed out that substance abuse often becomes a socially acceptable outlet for bottled-up anguish.
The anonymous source further reflected on the broader consequences of unemployment, stating, “Work gives structure, purpose, and dignity. When that is taken away, some men try to reclaim power through dominance at home, aggression, or substance use.” Mental health professionals caution that Botswana’s economic woes could deepen a silent crisis among men if left unchecked. The International Labour Organization (ILO) reports that sustained unemployment elevates the risk of depression and suicide, particularly among working-age men.
Yet men continue to access mental health services far less frequently than women. Analysts argue that policy responses must address both economic survival and entrenched social expectations. One emerging proposal gaining traction globally is Universal Basic Income (UBI), a guaranteed monthly payment to all citizens regardless of employment status.
The confidential source expressed hope that such a measure could alleviate some of the pressures of survival. “A basic income would not solve everything, but it would reduce the daily panic of not knowing how to feed your family,” the source said. Pilot UBI programs in Finland and Canada have demonstrated reductions in stress, enhanced mental well-being, and greater social stability, according to research by the OECD and World Bank. Although Botswana has yet to adopt a similar scheme, economists contend that targeted social protections for the unemployed could mitigate the desperation that often fuels destructive behaviors.
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