Abstract
This study explores the complexities of boys’ lives in Fiji. Instead of relying on problem oriented framings, it examines how masculinities are constructed, embodied, and negotiated in their everyday experiences. This research is based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in four Fijian schools. Drawing on 8 in-depth interviews, 16 focus groups, and participant observation, it focuses on the experiences of iTaukei and Indo Fijian boys. The findings highlight the complex interplay of cultural and religious values, peer group dynamics, and institutional structures in shaping boys’ gendered identities. Idealised forms of masculinity that emphasise toughness, athleticism, and emotional restraint are deeply embedded in school contexts, where boys actively police their own and others’ behaviours to align with dominant norms. Feminine and gender nonconforming boys often face marginalisation and homophobic abuse, with derogatory terms such as faggot and local expressions like qauri used to shame them and enforce conformity to dominant masculine norms. Despite these pressures, boys also demonstrated agency, resistance, and vulnerability. Many articulated a desire for emotional freedom, meaningful conversations, and alternative ways of being male. This thesis contributes to Fijian and Pacific gender scholarship by foregrounding boys’ voices and lived experiences. It advocates for a shift in how boys are understood, moving away from narratives that focus on their problems or shortcomings, and toward approaches that recognise their well-being, agency, and contextually grounded needs.