South Africa has some of the highest levels of violence perpetrated against women and children in the world. President Ramaphosa has acknowledged that our country is in a gender-based violence crisis. The stories are horrific, the numbers are shocking and the situation is unacceptable. So how did we get to this point?
It’s normal to treat girls and women as inferior
Centuries old traditions and cultures have shaped our society to be patriarchal – men have always been in charge (of almost everything). This means that boys learn, from a young age, that they are better than girls and that disrespecting girls and women is okay, and male chauvinism is normalised in many communities. Then add violent and misogynistic role models like fathers, uncles, grandfathers into the mix and our boys are destined to replay this violence in their own lives, often becoming abusive men themselves.
So what can we do to stop this cycle of violence and misogyny?
- We need to all question what we've been taught and what we think we know about gender roles, because women are NOT inferior to men.
- We need to bring up boys to be better, kinder adults who respect girls and women as their equals. We need to tell them this does not show weakness, rather it shows strength of character.
- Men, stop telling sexist jokes and stop laughing at sexist jokes. Time to call out your friends who behave in chauvinistic or misogynistic ways.
- Speak out against gender inequality in the work place or in your community. Women who do the same work as men should be paid the same!
And lastly, report domestic abuse: call Crime Stop on 08600 10 111, send an anonymous SMS to Crime Line at 32211 or call the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre at 0800 428 428.
Kwanele madoda kwanele!
Enough is enough.
REFLECTIONS
MEN, WE’RE HERE TO HELP YOU BE BETTER
By starting with you, together, we can reduce and stop violence against women.
Made for Men:
Started by Clinical psychologist, Dr Shahieda Jansen Made for Men is a safe space in which men can do emotional work that leads to positive attitudinal and behaviour change, without compromise of their manhood codes. Visit http://www.madeformen.co.za
Mankind project:
The ManKind Project (MKP) is a non-profit training and education organisation with three decades of proven success, hosting life-changing experiential personal development programmes for men. Some of MKP’s projects are involved in mentoring disaffected youth, working with gangs and incarcerated young men, building shelters for the homeless, and other causes that cry out for healthy masculine presence.Visit https://mankindproject.co.za/live/
MenEngage:
An organisation that works with men and boys across Africa engaging them on gender equality, HIV and other cultural issues. Contact Sonke Gender Justice for more information: https://genderjustice.org.za/contact-us/
HELP FOR SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
The South African Government site has compiled a comprehensive list of organisations that provide assistance to women and families affected by GBV. Click here for help:
#PeriodsDontLockdown #EndPeriodPoverty #StandUpAgainstGBV
We ask that you consider sponsoring a Mina Menstrual Cup for a survivor of GBV, it only costs R140 but it's a priceless gift.South African-made, Mina is a reusable menstrual cup that lasts for five years! Mina is made from 100% medical grade silicone which means she’s 100% safe, flexible and comfortable. No more expensive pads and tampons, and no more plastic pollution!
Please click here to help: https://bit.ly/2DEbVBd
STATS ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA(source: safersspaces.org.za)
- Population-based surveys show very high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence (SV) in particular, with IPV being the most common form of violence against women.
- Whilst people of all genders perpetrate and experience intimate partner and or sexual violence, men are most often the perpetrators and women and children the victims.
- More than half of all the women murdered (56%) in 2009 were killed by an intimate male partner.
- Between 25% and 40% of South African women have experienced sexual and/or physical IPV in their lifetime.
- Just under 50% of women report having ever experienced emotional or economic abuse at the hands of their intimate partners in their lifetime.
- Prevalence estimates of rape in South Africa range between 12% and 28% of women ever reporting being raped in their lifetime.
- Between 28 and 37% of adult men report having raped a women.
- Non-partner SV is particularly common, but reporting to police is very low. One study found that one in 13 women in Gauteng had reported non-partner rape, and only one in 25 rapes had been reported to the police.
- South Africa also faces a high prevalence of gang rape.
- Most men who rape do so for the first time as teenagers and almost all men who ever rape do so by their mid-20s.
- There is limited research into rape targeting women who have sex with women. One study across four Southern African countries, including South Africa, found that 31.1% of women reported having experienced forced sex.
- Male victims of rape are another under-studied group. One survey in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape found that 9.6% of men reported having experienced sexual victimisation by another man.
For more facts and information on gender-based violence, the different types of GBV, who it affects, what drives GBV and the impact on our society, visit https://www.saferspaces.org.za/understand/entry/gender-based-violence-in-south-africa
SaferSpaces is an interactive platform created by community safety and violence prevention practitioners in South Africa, with the aim of sharing information and learning from each other.
Credits:
CareZA could not have made the Reflections Film, which highlights how gender-based violence starts and how we can stop it, without the generous participation of the following people. Huge Thanks to all of you for helping with this extremely important cause:
Created by Iron-Heart Content Creation Studio (www.iron-heart.co.za)
Casting:
Andys Castings Studio
Patriot Films
Director: Aadil Dhalech
Producer: Deenan Naidoo
Executive Producer: Zayd Halim
Cast
Inner child: Hlumelo Mzimkulu
Man: Liedz Mkoka
Crew
DOP: Eeb Hajee
Focus Puller:Quinton Fredricks
DIT Monstrum DITs
Grips: Nasmie Majiet and Eric Tientcheu
Lighting:Marcel Shimba and Dean McGowan
Art Department: Lalla Bishop and Laurence Bishop
Art Stand-by: Pieter Smit
Wardrobe Stylist: Gabrielle de Gersigny
Make up: Jean Cronje
Sound: Rhomeez Pietersen
Crew Agent PulseCrew
Unit and Production:Yunus Nordien
Camera, Grips and Lighting Panavison and Panalux CPT
2+3 Post Production and Static Black
Editor: Stephen du Plessis
Online:Blake Prinsloo
Grade: Terry Simpson
Audio and Final Mix:
Field Sound: Nic van Reenen
