Rape Runs Rampant in South Africa
posted by: Ximena R. 182 days ago
It's no surprise that rape runs rampant in South Africa. You've heard it before and a new study conducted by the country's Medical Research Council (MRC) confirms that the problem is far from over.
A sample of 1,738 men in South Africa's Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces were interviewed for the study on rape and HIV and the intersectionalities that exist between the two. In order to guarantee complete anonymity, the men were asked to tape their answers into a Palm Pilot device.
The startling results reveal that one in four men have raped a woman or girl in their lifetime and of those almost half admitted they had done so more than once. The study also found that 73% of attackers carried out their first assault before they were 20-years-old. When asked how many had raped a woman or girl in the last year, one in 20 men admitted to doing so. To read the report in full click here.
This culture of sexual violence in South Africa is dangerous for many reasons, the prevalence of HIV being one of the most obvious. In fact, the study found that a woman raped by a man over the age of 25 has a one in four chance of her attacker being HIV-positive. The fear for women is thus not only being raped, but the exchange of HIV.
What is even more disheartening is the lack of responsibility and accountability by the government and courts in South Africa - only 7% of reported rapes are estimated to lead to conviction. Such high rates of rape combined with such a low conviction rate (not to mention new results that reveal that many men are repeat offenders) means more and more rapists walk free while more and more women are raped
Professor Rachel Jewkes of the MRC, who carried out the research attributes the high prevalence of rape in South Africa to “ideas about masculinity based on gender hierarchy and the sexual entitlement of men.” “It's rooted in an African ideal of manhood,” he says adding that, "The social space for debating these gender issues is now smaller than it was a few years ago. We need our government to show political leadership in changing attitudes. We need South African men, from the top to the grassroots, to take responsibility."
It's time someone take responsibility, but who will?
Read more: rape, hiv, south africa, womens rights
comments
This was an infomative, if not unsurprising article and resposes(I had no idea the South African president may have gotten away with rape). I do have some questions though. If anybody had some answers feel ree to message me.
Who's the idot telling these guys rape cures AIDS and why isn't this illness being taken more seriously? What happens when a woman successfully defends herself or those that don't? Why is it that it is considered ok?
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the denigration of women started with the catholic church denigrating mary magdalan as a prostitute then along with muslims removed the references to the equality of women and their key role as the nurturers of the earth, instead they were turned into no more than animals in most societies to be used as slaves and chattel. We accept this and in doing so pay lip service to the crimes committed just look at how we kow tow to muslims by allowing the wearing of the head covering in the western non muslim world, this covering has nothing to do with religion but more importantly it promotes the men's lack of respect for woman as they rape a woman and she is the one who is punished or killed. The men then have the nerve to claim they are serving Allah, what a joke.
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I'm a South African and the latest finding didnt come as a surprise to me. When in the African culture (not only in Zimbabwe) it is seen as a cure to rape a female, then what could we expect? We had a case a couple of years ago where a 3 month old baby was raped by 6 men. But - we have to add that the mom just left her daughter at home and she went out to the local 'shebeen' (its a bar). So, here I want to blame the mother as well. None the less, what Jane is talking about is called 'necklacing' - it happens, but it is not an everyday occurance. The African culture makes the community they live in like family and they will protect everyboy part of that 'family' no matter what the outcome of their actions. To use this is also part of everyday life to hear about some criminal being beaten half to death by the community. But once again, it doesnt happen everywhere in South Africa.
Yes, I am part of the rape statistic. Yes, South Africa's got a huge problem and I dont see how things will change if our own President has been accused of rape AND he got away with it. It is a huge problem when the crime statistics are made public and they say - oh it went down because in 2006 the rape stats were 56 254 and in 2007 it is 56 057...and the sad part is, this is only the reported cases.
The 1 in 4 men admittng to rape? I'd say its probably 1 in 3!
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Hi, RB. I,ve signed your petition.
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Please sign my petition http://www.alkalizeforhealth.net/Lnaturalgas.htm
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I don't think anyone in power cares to come up with a solution, try to change men or atleast teach them a lesson and lock'em up for good. Punishments are weak for rapists and child molestors in the US. We need to vote in tough politicians that will work on this issue. The issue never comes up. We must insist on it!
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I am both saddened and sickened by these statistics. My heart goes out to all these victims. We need to speak up for them and try harder to change the mentality that leads to this kind of violence against women and children.
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That,s nothing new. You just have to turn on the TV and you,v already seen enough. Who declares and makes war? MEN!!!
Who abuses and kills children in most cases? MEN!!
Who abuses ,kills ,tortures and chases animals? MEN!!
And who rapes, beats women up und ignore their humanrights as a woman?? MEN!!!
So and this has finally to be stopped. It,s not only in Africa that women get raped,it,s all over the world. Maybe right now on this very second.
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I am againest violence but sometimes wonder if castration is too good for some of these men.You can read about rape as far back as the bible so it is nothng new.Maybe men were the ones who should of worn chasity apparell..I don't know about setting someone on fire as was stated above but there has to be something done to these beast.
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Men for the most part are animals and they feel a woman or a man can help them feel better no matter what they have to do they will do it. Women for the most part in that part of the world are objects to used and abused so nothing surprises me NOTHING.
The sad thing there is nobody to speak-up for them so they are alone with nobody to protect them against these animals called men.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL OF THE INNOCENT WOMEN IN THAT PART OF THE WORLD NOW AND FOR ALL TIME AS I AM SURE HE WILL!!!
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