Experience of abuse: why wives do not leave
- Authors: Makhananda, Phakama
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Abused wives -- South Africa , Family violence , Abused women -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , Social Work
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/10625 , vital:35645
- Description: The focus of this study is to investigate factors that cause women to remain in abusive relationships. It has also focused on investigating the experience of abuse, the consequences of abuse and the support that women desire during their time of abuse. Domestic violence against women in South Africa and globally has been increasing by the day. In 2017 there has been more than ten reports of women who have been battered by their partners in South Africa and they were reported dead, therefore the aim is to focus on investigating the reasons why women stay in abusive relationships. The research approach for the study was qualitative in nature. The study adopted snowball sampling as the sampling technique for the study and ten women who have left their partners for two years or longer were interviewed. Interviews were conducted at Living Waters Victim Empowerment Centre in East London and the data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. The key finding of the study is that financial dependency, culture and children play a major role for women to stay in abusive relationships. All ten participants who were interviewed were aware that they were being abused, however, they used unemployment, children, culture and love for their partners as their reasons for remaining in abusive relationships. The study found that women have been affected physically, emotionally and psychologically by the abuse which has negatively impacted their daily functioning. 4 This study also discovered that if women receive family support during their time of abuse, they will be able to make informed decisions and leave their abusive partners. One of the recommendations of the study is that women should be encouraged to expose the abuse they are enduring through campaigns and workshops. They should also be taught skills that will assist them to escape abusive partners. There is also a need for educational programs that will focus on men and the impact of domestic violence on women and children.
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- Date Issued: 2018
The defence of battered woman syndrome
- Authors: Matyobeni, Phathiswa Vanesharee
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Abused women -- South Africa , Battered woman syndrome -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/45432 , vital:38616
- Description: Women in South Africa are a vulnerable group, who face threats of violence and abuse daily. The worst aspect of this being domestic abuse or intimate partner violence. Domestic abuse between partners is a common occurrence that results not only from a power imbalance in the relationship but from expectations of society regarding the role of the woman and accepted behaviours, regarding the disciplining of the wife, that is held by communities. Despite attempts by law enforcement and the State to minimise and control domestic abuse; domestic abuse remains on the rise. These women find themselves unprotected and facing possible death at the hands of a loved one. In fear for their lives, these women resolve to kill their partners before their husbands kill them. This changes their status from victim to perpetrator. Consequently, they face prosecution.This dilemma is not unique to South Africa, and as a result, author Lenore Walker created Battered Woman Syndrome. This syndrome was created to explain the experience of these women and answer the questions as to why these women remain in these relationships. Also explained is why they feel trapped. This is a psychological theory that has been used by courts in Australia and the United States to assist the battered woman in justifying her actions when claiming self-defence. South Africa, however, has not made use of Battered Woman Syndrome when defending the battered woman in South African courts.
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- Date Issued: 2017
A qualitative exploration of the experience of Black women in violent relationships
- Authors: Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
- Date: 2011-11-16
- Subjects: Abused women -- South Africa , Abused wives -- South Africa , Family violence -- Research -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSocSc
- Identifier: vital:701 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1006458 , Abused women -- South Africa , Abused wives -- South Africa , Family violence -- Research -- South Africa
- Description: This study is a qualitative exploration of black women experiences in violent relationships. The study was conducted at Masimanyane Women Support Centre in East London. As a qualitative exploratory study, in-depth interviews were conducted and a sample of ten abused women was utilized. A study of related literature has been made to focus on the existing literature concerning abuse on black women. Various theories have been explored, various feminist views were discussed and the existing legal system, nationally and internationally was looked into. The findings suggest that black women are abused by their partners. Alcohol abuse, failing to support the children and extra marital relationships have been cited as some of the reasons. Women in abusive relationships in this study sustained physical as well as emotional abuse. The professional networks assisted these women to some extent. However, there is an indication of a dire need for training, interdisciplinary approach and a legal system that prohibits further abuse by male partners. Various recommendations have been postulated. The researcher indicated that there is a need for empowering programs for the abused, rehabilitative program for the abuser, and an effective legal system to prevent further abuse on women.
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Male perspectives on gender violence in South Africa: the case of Nkonkobe municipal area
- Authors: Danga, Talent
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Abused wives -- South Africa , Abused women -- South Africa , Family violence -- South Africa , Women -- Crimes against -- South Africa , Family violence -- South Africa -- Research , Family violence -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M SW
- Identifier: vital:11753 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/180 , Abused wives -- South Africa , Abused women -- South Africa , Family violence -- South Africa , Women -- Crimes against -- South Africa , Family violence -- South Africa -- Research , Family violence -- Law and legislation -- South Africa
- Description: The study explores the experiences of men who perpetrated violence against women in the domestic sphere. The study’s overarching concern is that violence has been largely seen as a women’s problem and not an issue that is central to men and yet in most cases are the perpetrators of this violence. Consequently, men have not been targeted in initiatives that curb domestic violence (Salo, 2005). It is in this frame of reference that this study saw it imperative to focus on the male perspective of gender violence. The study aims to find factors that contribute to male violence and in turn recommend practical and appropriate strategies of dealing with male violence perpetrators. The study drew its theoretical framework largely from the feminist theory, systems theory and the social learning theory in-order to gain insight into the different frameworks for making judgement about male violence against women. Feminists hold the view that, starting with people’s experiences is a powerful tool that provides the rational for their studies. The study was therefore qualitative in nature as it sought to gather men’s experiences of violent against their spouses; semi-structured interviews were utilized during data collection. A purposive sampling method was utilised to select ten men who were known to have perpetrated violence against their partners and five key informants with special knowledge on domestic violence. The research was conducted through the Department of Social Development in Alice in the Eastern Cape, which facilitated a trusting relationship between the researcher and its clients. The findings established that violence is used to maintain control and power over women. Men invoked hegemonic discourses as violence is employed as an instrument to suppress women, mostly in instances were women question their prerogatives and undermine their authority. It was evidenced that cultural practices such as ‘lobola’ (dowry) usually contribute to men’s use of violence. Most of the respondents understood violence from the physical dimension only, as violence was equated to beating and slapping. Added to that was the respondents’ inadequate understanding of domestic violence laws and legislation. The study also established that social service providers seem not to have concrete procedures and capacity to deal with perpetrators of domestic violence. In light of the problems discussed, the study recommends effective counseling and educational programs, policy improvement, capacitation of service providers and the criminal justice system and further research as strategies for dealing with male violence in the Nkonkobe District.
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- Date Issued: 2008
The meaning women attach to their experiences of intimate partner violence: an interpretative phenomenological study
- Authors: Da Silva, Sheila
- Date: 2008
- Subjects: Women -- Violence against -- South Africa , Abused women -- South Africa , Wife abuse -- South Africa , Family violence -- Psychological aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , M Soc Sc (C Psy)
- Identifier: vital:11853 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/153 , Women -- Violence against -- South Africa , Abused women -- South Africa , Wife abuse -- South Africa , Family violence -- Psychological aspects
- Description: This study investigates the meaning that women attach to their experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV). It seeks to explore how women who have experienced violence in the context of an intimate relationship understand, or make sense of, that experience. It is important to investigate this in order to address some of the assumptions that often inform understandings of the phenomena. Moreover, such information can be used to inform the design and implementation of appropriate interventions. Nine women who had previously experienced violence within the context of an intimate heterosexual relationship participated in this study. For ethical reasons only women who had extricated themselves from those relationships were interviewed for this study. Participants’ accounts were therefore retrospective. The women who participated in this study constituted a homogenous group in terms of their level of education, geographic location and employment status. Data was collected through personal, face-to-face interviews which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data in the form of text was analyzed following Willig’s (2001) criteria for Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Disclosure of the women’s experiences, how they made sense of their experiences, as well as the resources they identified as available to them are reported in the results and analysis chapter.
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- Date Issued: 2008