The rape culture of South Africa
A culture of male sexual entitlement and the normalization of rape relate to high numbers of rape being perpetrated. South African men score very highly on an scales measuring hostile sexism. Hostile sexism refers to a belief that woman are inferior, cold, aggressive and selfish and seek to take over men's rightful place.
Conversely, South African woman score highly on the benevolent sexism scale. The benevolent sexism scale manifests as ideas about woman's specialness and their need to be cherished and protected.
Men who rape hold gender-inequitable views, and may be more likely to be physically violent towards their partners, engage in sex with multiple partners and practice transaction sex. Men who rape may be further categorized as those who raped their partners and men who raped non-partners.
Those who raped non-partners where more likely to use drugs, belong to gangs, likely to be susceptible to peer pressure and are generally wealthier and more socially advantaged those men who raped their partners. Child hood adversity including emotional and physical neglect, along with emotional, physical and sexual abuse is commonly found in both groups.
Those who raped non-partners where more likely to use drugs, belong to gangs, likely to be susceptible to peer pressure and are generally wealthier and more socially advantaged those men who raped their partners. Child hood adversity including emotional and physical neglect, along with emotional, physical and sexual abuse is commonly found in both groups.
Reasons for not reporting a sexual offence:
- Fear of not being believed or being accused of lying
- Feelings of shame, humiliation, guilt, and embarrassment
- Feelings of pity and love for offender
- Lack of physical access to police or social workers
- Fear of retaliation or intimidation by the offender
- Fear of the legal process (including police mistreatment)
- Fear of having to relive the trauma of the experience
- Fear of upsetting the stability of the family
- Fear of loss of economic support from the abuser
- Preference for cultural means of resolving disputes
- Fear of ostracism or ridicule by peers
- Wanting to avoid the stigma attached to being a rape victim (being labelled as "damaged")
-GT Viki et al, Hostile sexism, type of rape, and self-reported rape proclivity within a sample of Zimbabwean males, Violence Against Women, 12:8 2006, 789–800.
- P Glick et al, Beyond prejudice as simple antipathy: hostile and benevolent sexism across cultures, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79:5, 2000, 763–775.
- P Glick et al, Beyond prejudice as simple antipathy: hostile and benevolent sexism across cultures, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 79:5, 2000, 763–775.
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