The implications of a patriarchal culture for women’s access to “Formal” Human Rights in South Africa: a case study of domestic violence survivors
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Type: Book Chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/483818 , uj:43922
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Type: Book Chapter
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/483818 , uj:43922
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract.
- Full Text:
“We Need to Understand the Whole Story”: A Discursive Analysis of the Responses of Informal Support Networks to Help Seeking by Women Experiencing Abuse from Men in a Small South African Town
- Mwatsiya, Innocent, Rasool, Shahana
- Authors: Mwatsiya, Innocent , Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/489132 , uj:44588 , Citation: Mwatsiya, I. and Rasool, S., 2021. “We Need to Understand the Whole Story”: A Discursive Analysis of the Responses of Informal Support Networks to Help Seeking by Women Experiencing Abuse from Men in a Small South African Town. Gender Issues, 38(3), pp.284-304. , DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-021-09286-3
- Description: Abstract: In the responses of informal networks to women seeking help for domestic violence, discourses of privatization, minimization and blame shifting emerged as salient. In particular, the discourse of “We need to understand the whole story” was frequently used to justify violence against those women who were seen as potentially violating gendered norms. This paper explores how these discourses contribute to the continuation of women abuse and to negative help seeking experiences for women seeking help for abuse. These discourses are embedded in the cultural contexts within which women seek help and are challenging to overcome by the women themselves. Hence, it is important that these discourses are contested and new narratives that enable help-seeking and help provision are constructed.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Mwatsiya, Innocent , Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2021
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/489132 , uj:44588 , Citation: Mwatsiya, I. and Rasool, S., 2021. “We Need to Understand the Whole Story”: A Discursive Analysis of the Responses of Informal Support Networks to Help Seeking by Women Experiencing Abuse from Men in a Small South African Town. Gender Issues, 38(3), pp.284-304. , DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12147-021-09286-3
- Description: Abstract: In the responses of informal networks to women seeking help for domestic violence, discourses of privatization, minimization and blame shifting emerged as salient. In particular, the discourse of “We need to understand the whole story” was frequently used to justify violence against those women who were seen as potentially violating gendered norms. This paper explores how these discourses contribute to the continuation of women abuse and to negative help seeking experiences for women seeking help for abuse. These discourses are embedded in the cultural contexts within which women seek help and are challenging to overcome by the women themselves. Hence, it is important that these discourses are contested and new narratives that enable help-seeking and help provision are constructed.
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The ongoing challenge of violence against women and children in South Africa. Why are we deeper in crisis?
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/434388 , uj:37600
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2020
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/434388 , uj:37600
- Description: Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstract
- Full Text:
Exposure to violence and beliefs about violence against women among adolescents in Nigeria and South Africa
- Fakunmoju, Sunday B., Rasool, Shahana
- Authors: Fakunmoju, Sunday B. , Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Adolescent exposure to violence , Gender-based violence , Violence against women
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/289994 , uj:31474 , Citation: Fakunmoju, S.B. & Rasool, S. 2018. Exposure to violence and beliefs about violence against women among adolescents in Nigeria and South Africa. SAGE Open October-December 2018: 1– 17 © The Author(s) 2018 DOI: 10.1177/2158244018817591 journals.sagepub.com/home/sgo
- Description: Abstract: Although adolescents’ exposure to violence and oppressive gender attitudes is prevalent, comparative knowledge across countries is sparse. This study examined exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), family violence, and beliefs about violence against women (VAW) in a convenience sample of 2,462 adolescents from 44 schools in Nigeria and South Africa. Findings suggested that exposure to IPV, family violence, and beliefs about VAW differed by gender and country. Specifically, adolescents from Nigeria were more likely to be exposed to IPV and family violence and were more likely to endorse VAW than adolescents from South Africa. Male adolescents were more likely to endorse VAW than were female adolescents. Similarly, higher age, being male, being from Nigeria, being in a relationship, and greater exposure to family violence were associated with higher endorsement of VAW. Findings suggest that effective prevention programs are needed in both countries to mitigate exposure to IPV and family violence. Concerted efforts are also required to work with exposed adolescents to inhibit pro-VAW beliefs and stop the intergenerational transmission of violence. Additional implications of findings for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
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- Authors: Fakunmoju, Sunday B. , Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Adolescent exposure to violence , Gender-based violence , Violence against women
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/289994 , uj:31474 , Citation: Fakunmoju, S.B. & Rasool, S. 2018. Exposure to violence and beliefs about violence against women among adolescents in Nigeria and South Africa. SAGE Open October-December 2018: 1– 17 © The Author(s) 2018 DOI: 10.1177/2158244018817591 journals.sagepub.com/home/sgo
- Description: Abstract: Although adolescents’ exposure to violence and oppressive gender attitudes is prevalent, comparative knowledge across countries is sparse. This study examined exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV), family violence, and beliefs about violence against women (VAW) in a convenience sample of 2,462 adolescents from 44 schools in Nigeria and South Africa. Findings suggested that exposure to IPV, family violence, and beliefs about VAW differed by gender and country. Specifically, adolescents from Nigeria were more likely to be exposed to IPV and family violence and were more likely to endorse VAW than adolescents from South Africa. Male adolescents were more likely to endorse VAW than were female adolescents. Similarly, higher age, being male, being from Nigeria, being in a relationship, and greater exposure to family violence were associated with higher endorsement of VAW. Findings suggest that effective prevention programs are needed in both countries to mitigate exposure to IPV and family violence. Concerted efforts are also required to work with exposed adolescents to inhibit pro-VAW beliefs and stop the intergenerational transmission of violence. Additional implications of findings for policy, practice, and research are discussed.
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Adolescent reports of experiencing gender based violence : findings from a cross-sectional survey from schools in a South African city
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gender-based violence , Adolescents , Reporting
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/245042 , uj:25352 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2017. Adolescent reports of experiencing gender based violence : findings from a cross-sectional survey from schools in a South African city.
- Description: Abstract: The aim of this paper is to describe adolescent reports of gender based violence (GBV) based on a cross-sectional survey conducted with grade 8 boys and girls in high schools. . Self-completed paper based surveys were implemented with 1756 adolescents in 24 Johannesburg high schools in 2012 and with 2202 adolescents based at 30 Johannesburg high schools in 2013. Consent was required from both parents and learner in order for learners to participate. The results show high levels of GBV among adolescents, though fewer adolescents reported in 2013 than 2012. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to report experiencing all types of GBV, except for three physical GBV indicators in 2013. A specific indicator asked about rape and threats of rape. Whilst these figures were lower than asking about specific incidents of sexual violence, rates of rape were still between 8-11 %. The majority of perpetrators of rape and threats of rape were male. Adolescents were more likely to report experiences to family and friends, rather than authorities. Although a quarter of perpetrators were strangers, more were known to the victim. Findings suggest that adolescents are experiencing high levels of GBV from those known to them. Hence, there is a need for more accessible options for reporting and supporting adolescents to deal with these experiences, such as social workers in schools. Intervention and prevention strategies to deal with GBV are urgently required in the school context with both boys and girls as part of the curriculum.
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- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Gender-based violence , Adolescents , Reporting
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/245042 , uj:25352 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2017. Adolescent reports of experiencing gender based violence : findings from a cross-sectional survey from schools in a South African city.
- Description: Abstract: The aim of this paper is to describe adolescent reports of gender based violence (GBV) based on a cross-sectional survey conducted with grade 8 boys and girls in high schools. . Self-completed paper based surveys were implemented with 1756 adolescents in 24 Johannesburg high schools in 2012 and with 2202 adolescents based at 30 Johannesburg high schools in 2013. Consent was required from both parents and learner in order for learners to participate. The results show high levels of GBV among adolescents, though fewer adolescents reported in 2013 than 2012. Boys were significantly more likely than girls to report experiencing all types of GBV, except for three physical GBV indicators in 2013. A specific indicator asked about rape and threats of rape. Whilst these figures were lower than asking about specific incidents of sexual violence, rates of rape were still between 8-11 %. The majority of perpetrators of rape and threats of rape were male. Adolescents were more likely to report experiences to family and friends, rather than authorities. Although a quarter of perpetrators were strangers, more were known to the victim. Findings suggest that adolescents are experiencing high levels of GBV from those known to them. Hence, there is a need for more accessible options for reporting and supporting adolescents to deal with these experiences, such as social workers in schools. Intervention and prevention strategies to deal with GBV are urgently required in the school context with both boys and girls as part of the curriculum.
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Muslim women overcoming marital violence : breaking through ‘structural and cultural prisons’ created by religious leaders
- Rasool, Shahana, Suleman, Muhammed
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana , Suleman, Muhammed
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Domestic violence , Religious leaders , Structural violence
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/225445 , uj:22769 , Citation: Rasool, S. & Suleman, M. 2017. Muslim women overcoming marital violence : breaking through ‘structural and cultural prisons’ created by religious leaders.
- Description: Abstract: There is growing evidence of marital violence experienced by women in the Muslim community in South Africa. While women may have recourse to divorce in a violent marital relationship, structural and cultural barriers prevent them from dealing effectively with abuse. It would seem that women receive little help from religious organisations and other structures in dealing with marital violence. Androcentric applications of Islamic law by Muslim religious leaders limit women’s access to suitable options for dealing with marital violence and obtaining a divorce. Against this background, Islamic feminist theory provides a challenge to patriarchal interpretations of the Qur’an and draws attention to social issues such as stigma, normalisation, and acceptance of violence which results in women occupying subordinate positions in Muslim society, hence becoming victims of not only direct violence but also cultural and structural violence. Using concepts of direct, structural and cultural violence as analytical instruments, this article highlights the ways in which Muslim women, who experience marital violence, are limited by metaphorical prisons created by structural and cultural norms produced by Muslim religious leaders who ascribe to patriarchal interpretations of Islam.
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- Authors: Rasool, Shahana , Suleman, Muhammed
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Domestic violence , Religious leaders , Structural violence
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/225445 , uj:22769 , Citation: Rasool, S. & Suleman, M. 2017. Muslim women overcoming marital violence : breaking through ‘structural and cultural prisons’ created by religious leaders.
- Description: Abstract: There is growing evidence of marital violence experienced by women in the Muslim community in South Africa. While women may have recourse to divorce in a violent marital relationship, structural and cultural barriers prevent them from dealing effectively with abuse. It would seem that women receive little help from religious organisations and other structures in dealing with marital violence. Androcentric applications of Islamic law by Muslim religious leaders limit women’s access to suitable options for dealing with marital violence and obtaining a divorce. Against this background, Islamic feminist theory provides a challenge to patriarchal interpretations of the Qur’an and draws attention to social issues such as stigma, normalisation, and acceptance of violence which results in women occupying subordinate positions in Muslim society, hence becoming victims of not only direct violence but also cultural and structural violence. Using concepts of direct, structural and cultural violence as analytical instruments, this article highlights the ways in which Muslim women, who experience marital violence, are limited by metaphorical prisons created by structural and cultural norms produced by Muslim religious leaders who ascribe to patriarchal interpretations of Islam.
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The effectiveness of perpetrator programmes in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence : a case study of NICRO’S PIPV programme
- Maphosa, Ntandoyenkosi, Rasool, Shahana
- Authors: Maphosa, Ntandoyenkosi , Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Domestic violence , Perpetrator pprogrammes , Gender relations
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/245079 , uj:25357 , Citation: Maphosa, N. & Rasool, S. 2017. The effectiveness of perpetrator programmes in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence : a case study of NICRO’S PIPV programme.
- Description: Abstract: Domestic violence is an enduring social problem in South Africa and call for a competent response to reduce the high rates of its occurrence (Kruger, 2006). The South African government developed a legal reform to deal with the implementation of Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998. However this legal reform alone is insufficient to reduce domestic violence as its still prevalent up to date. Other strategies and programmes have been developed by other relevant stakeholders such as NICRO in the fight against domestic violence. NICRO developed a feminist orientated Perpetrator of Intimate Partner Violence programme. There has been much contention with regard to working with perpetrators thus this study sought to contribute to the debate by examining the effectiveness of the NICRO PIPV programme.The goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PIPV programme in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence . A sample of 8 respondents was used for the qualitative study. The results from the study indicated that positive gender relations are a key to reducing domestic violence as all participants stopped physical domestic violence perpetration. It was also apparent from the study that successful perpetrator programmes have to be coupled with legal reforms, such as the Domestic Violence 116 of 1998 to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Maphosa, Ntandoyenkosi , Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Domestic violence , Perpetrator pprogrammes , Gender relations
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/245079 , uj:25357 , Citation: Maphosa, N. & Rasool, S. 2017. The effectiveness of perpetrator programmes in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence : a case study of NICRO’S PIPV programme.
- Description: Abstract: Domestic violence is an enduring social problem in South Africa and call for a competent response to reduce the high rates of its occurrence (Kruger, 2006). The South African government developed a legal reform to deal with the implementation of Domestic Violence Act 116 of 1998. However this legal reform alone is insufficient to reduce domestic violence as its still prevalent up to date. Other strategies and programmes have been developed by other relevant stakeholders such as NICRO in the fight against domestic violence. NICRO developed a feminist orientated Perpetrator of Intimate Partner Violence programme. There has been much contention with regard to working with perpetrators thus this study sought to contribute to the debate by examining the effectiveness of the NICRO PIPV programme.The goal of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the PIPV programme in promoting positive gender relations and preventing domestic violence . A sample of 8 respondents was used for the qualitative study. The results from the study indicated that positive gender relations are a key to reducing domestic violence as all participants stopped physical domestic violence perpetration. It was also apparent from the study that successful perpetrator programmes have to be coupled with legal reforms, such as the Domestic Violence 116 of 1998 to ensure compliance and effectiveness.
- Full Text:
Abused women’s experiences of help-seeking from health services
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/92639 , uj:20251 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2016. Abused women’s experiences of help-seeking from health services.
- Description: Abstract: This chapter argues that women survivors of domestic violence do not seek out health professionals to disclose abuse or to seek help to deal with abuse specifically. This is largely because they do not see them as a valuable solution to dealing with the abuse. It would seem that some abused women in this study had no notion of how health professionals can assist in resolving domestic violence concerns. This could be due to a lack of knowledge of the role of these professionals in domestic violence or to their actual experiences of inappropriate responses by them. Nevertheless, health services are critical to assisting abused women since they often present at these settings, even though they may not disclose abuse.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/92639 , uj:20251 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2016. Abused women’s experiences of help-seeking from health services.
- Description: Abstract: This chapter argues that women survivors of domestic violence do not seek out health professionals to disclose abuse or to seek help to deal with abuse specifically. This is largely because they do not see them as a valuable solution to dealing with the abuse. It would seem that some abused women in this study had no notion of how health professionals can assist in resolving domestic violence concerns. This could be due to a lack of knowledge of the role of these professionals in domestic violence or to their actual experiences of inappropriate responses by them. Nevertheless, health services are critical to assisting abused women since they often present at these settings, even though they may not disclose abuse.
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Help-seeking after domestic violence : the critical role of children
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Disclosure of domestic violence , Support seeking , Children exposed to domestic violence
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/214431 , uj:21280 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2016. Help-seeking after domestic violence : the critical role of children.
- Description: Abstract: Limited knowledge is available on the factors that contribute to women’s help-seeking after domestic violence in South Africa. Qualitative research conducted with seventeen abused women in shelters in South Africa indicate that the best interests of children are influential both in women’s decisions to stay in abusive relationships and to seek help. The personal decisions of women to seek help are influenced by powerful social discourses on the best interests of the child. Policy and practice that advocate for the best interests of the child need to prioritize the safety of both mothers and their children in domestic violence situations.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Disclosure of domestic violence , Support seeking , Children exposed to domestic violence
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/214431 , uj:21280 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2016. Help-seeking after domestic violence : the critical role of children.
- Description: Abstract: Limited knowledge is available on the factors that contribute to women’s help-seeking after domestic violence in South Africa. Qualitative research conducted with seventeen abused women in shelters in South Africa indicate that the best interests of children are influential both in women’s decisions to stay in abusive relationships and to seek help. The personal decisions of women to seek help are influenced by powerful social discourses on the best interests of the child. Policy and practice that advocate for the best interests of the child need to prioritize the safety of both mothers and their children in domestic violence situations.
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The influence of social constructions of family on abused women's help-seeking after domestic violence
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Women abuse , Help-seeking , Marriage , Family , Socio-cultural norms
- Language: English
- Type: Journal article
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/385874 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/17609 , uj:15904 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2015. The influence of social constructions of family on abused women's help-seeking after domestic violence. South African Review of Sociology, 46(4):24-38, DOI: 10.1080/21528586.2015.1100098
- Description: Abstract: Ideas about maintaining the ‘solidarity of the family’, in contrast to women’s interests, is starkly evident in domestic violence situations, where notions of maintaining the family have been intrinsic to women’s decisions to remain in abusive relationships. Through the narratives of 17 abused women this article will show how socio-cultural discourses that promote the maintenance of the family above women’s safety, by normalising abuse in marriage and expecting women to self-sacrifice, contributes to women’s reluctance to leave abusive relationships. Further notions of ‘forever after’ marraiges and making it work at all costs also contributed to limited help seeking in the interests of maintenaning the social institution of mariage. Informal networks insistence that women should endure abusive relationships, contribute to abused women feeling an overriding commitment to maintaining the family. As a result of these discourses and a lack of support from informal networks, women are reluctant to disclose abuse to professionals, because seeking help for abuse implies that they are challenging socio-cultural norms that are entrenched at the level of the family and community. These findings emerged from an analysis of in-depth abuse history interviews conducted with women living in Johannesburg and Cape Town shelters. Abuse history interviews are similar to life histories but the interviews only focused on the periods and aspect of women’s lives when they experienced abuse. The aim of the study is to understand the personal, socio-cultural, structural and institutional factors that influenced help-seeking. This article will largely focus on the socio-cultural discourses that normalise domestic violence in order to preserve families. It is argued that socio-cultural norms which serve to perpetuate domestic violence in the name of families at the expense of women’s rights and safety, need to be challenged and the true impact of domestic violence on social life needs to be highlighted.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Rasool, Shahana
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Women abuse , Help-seeking , Marriage , Family , Socio-cultural norms
- Language: English
- Type: Journal article
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/385874 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/17609 , uj:15904 , Citation: Rasool, S. 2015. The influence of social constructions of family on abused women's help-seeking after domestic violence. South African Review of Sociology, 46(4):24-38, DOI: 10.1080/21528586.2015.1100098
- Description: Abstract: Ideas about maintaining the ‘solidarity of the family’, in contrast to women’s interests, is starkly evident in domestic violence situations, where notions of maintaining the family have been intrinsic to women’s decisions to remain in abusive relationships. Through the narratives of 17 abused women this article will show how socio-cultural discourses that promote the maintenance of the family above women’s safety, by normalising abuse in marriage and expecting women to self-sacrifice, contributes to women’s reluctance to leave abusive relationships. Further notions of ‘forever after’ marraiges and making it work at all costs also contributed to limited help seeking in the interests of maintenaning the social institution of mariage. Informal networks insistence that women should endure abusive relationships, contribute to abused women feeling an overriding commitment to maintaining the family. As a result of these discourses and a lack of support from informal networks, women are reluctant to disclose abuse to professionals, because seeking help for abuse implies that they are challenging socio-cultural norms that are entrenched at the level of the family and community. These findings emerged from an analysis of in-depth abuse history interviews conducted with women living in Johannesburg and Cape Town shelters. Abuse history interviews are similar to life histories but the interviews only focused on the periods and aspect of women’s lives when they experienced abuse. The aim of the study is to understand the personal, socio-cultural, structural and institutional factors that influenced help-seeking. This article will largely focus on the socio-cultural discourses that normalise domestic violence in order to preserve families. It is argued that socio-cultural norms which serve to perpetuate domestic violence in the name of families at the expense of women’s rights and safety, need to be challenged and the true impact of domestic violence on social life needs to be highlighted.
- Full Text:
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