I had erroneously assumed that the title Reclaiming The L-Word: Sappho’s Daughters Out In Africa ... more I had erroneously assumed that the title Reclaiming The L-Word: Sappho’s Daughters Out In Africa was just another loosely themed analogy with a catchy title. I anticipated another disjointed collection of papers espousing the conventional polarities of ‘othering’ and deconstructing the complex metaphysics of ‘gender identities’. I had even prepared myself for contrived ontologies and stubborn epistemologies to encroach my quiet Sunday afternoon. Admittedly, the title, not to mention the beautiful imagery on the cover, drew me in. Relieved that the title didn’t include clever equivoques for ‘embodiment’ or ‘contested’, I proceeded to flip the pages. The contents page, to my surprise, was filled with a series of simply titled stories. The stories themselves were powerful, evocative, moving and bold.
Medico-legal research has found that four women are murdered everyday by their intimate partners ... more Medico-legal research has found that four women are murdered everyday by their intimate partners in South Africa (Mathhews et aI., 2004). At least a third of these women sought assistance from the criminal justice system. Previous research on the implementation of South Africa's Domestic Violence Act [DVA] has found that there are critical attrition points in the criminal justice system where cases of domestic violence simply 'fall out' (Artz & Smythe, 2005a, 2007). Despite reporting incidents to the police and applying for protection orders, a significant proportion (over 50%) of victims do not return to court to have their temporary protection orders finalised by the courts (Artz 1998,2001). Against this background a study was undertaken with MOSAIC, a domestic violence intervention organisation in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The objective of the study was to identify the factors that contribute to domestic violence victims' withdrawal from the legal process before they ·finalise their protection orders. The research was conducted in four magisterial districts, namely, Bellville, Wynberg, Philippi and Khayelitsha. Over a three month period 365 victims of domestic violence were interviewed about their reasons for not returning to court to finalise their protection orders. Using an 'eclectic' theoretical framework, which draws on feminist jurisprudence scholarship and feminist empiricism, this research explores the personal, social and structural barriers that affect women's decisions to proceed with or retract from the criminal justice process. In the analysis of these barriers, it challenges feminist research and criminal justice practice to reconsider the nomenclature of the 'non-cooperative victim'. The transitional context of South Africa is critical to this analysis. It is argued that the construct of the non-cooperative victim both excludes the cumulative impact of victims' interactions with the criminal justice system and perpetuates the myth that women are intentionally and consciously obstructive; conduct which, in terms of research designed to explore 'victim non-cooperation', is enthusiastically scrutinised. It calls for a rigorous examination of 'system uncooperativeness' and highlights the critical failings of the criminal justice system that directly contribute to victim reluctance to proceed with finalising protection orders. Supplied by The British Library - 'The world's knowledge'EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
In a social and political context characterised by high rates of sexual violence and interest in ... more In a social and political context characterised by high rates of sexual violence and interest in the responsibilities of the state towards rape survivors, a specialist enclave of research is developing and re-defining sexual violence research in South Africa. Pressures to understand the extent, frequency and nature of sexual offences in light of current legal reforms by the state have resulted in a national panic to “quantify” the problem. The tendency has thus been to focus on the aims and objectives of sexual offence’s research rather than the complex methodological issues in executing research about ‘human subjects’ (survivors and service providers), their experiences with rape and the invasive nature of research. It is therefore the intention of this paper to provide some reflections on feminist research methodology, epistemological issues, and the ethics of sexual violence research.
Background. National estimates of childhood undernutrition display uncertainty; however, it is kn... more Background. National estimates of childhood undernutrition display uncertainty; however, it is known that stunting is the most prevalent deficiency. Child undernutrition is manifest in poor communities but is a modifiable risk factor. The intention of the study was to quantify trends in the indicators of child undernutrition to aid policymakers. Objectives. To estimate the burden of diseases attributable to stunting, wasting and underweight and their aggregate effects in South African (SA) children under the age of 5 years during 2000, 2006 and 2012. Methods. The study applied comparative risk assessment methodology. Data sources for estimates of prevalence and population distribution of exposure in children under 5 years were the National Food Consumption surveys and the SA National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted close to the target year of burden. Childhood undernutrition was estimated for stunting, wasting and underweight and their combined ‘aggregate effect’ u...
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a behavioral intervention designed to promote female condoms and... more OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a behavioral intervention designed to promote female condoms and reduce unprotected sex among women at high risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHODS: The effect of the intervention on barrier use was evaluated with a pretest-posttest design with 1159 female STD clinic patients. RESULTS: Among participants with follow-up data, 79% used the female condom at least once and often multiple times. More than one third of those who completed the study used female condoms throughout follow-up. Use of barrier protection increased significantly after the intervention, and high use was maintained during a 6-month follow-up. To account for attrition, the use of protection by all subjects was projected under 3 conservative assumptions. The initial visit and termination visit projections suggest that use increased sharply after the intervention and declined during follow-up but remained elevated compared with the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Many ...
Global Perspectives on Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Across the Lifecourse, 2017
In this chapter we explore exposure to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV) ove... more In this chapter we explore exposure to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV) over the course of a lifetime, delineating the life course into particular age cohorts: children aged 0–12, adolescents aged 13–18, adults aged 19–59 and older adults aged 60+. We begin by briefly framing the international, regional (African) and domestic (South African) legal and policy contexts which shape approaches to SGBV prevention; these frameworks conceptualize what constitutes a "sexual violation," and offer different degrees of protection, based on these age demographics. While our domestic and empirical focus is on South Africa, our analysis has some application to other regions on the African continent, particularly Southern and East Africa. We highlight the particular vulnerabilities of children, of being in abusive relationships or households, living on or working from the street, substance abuse and of older adult women. To explicate the notion of compounding vulnerabilities we address in more detail the increased vulnerability of certain groups, including sexual and gender minorities, people with disabilities and migrants. While these vulnerabilities are experienced across global north and south contexts, we focus on the specific complexities of the South African context. Evidence of the scope of SGBV has resulted in both international and country-level legal reforms. While these are largely paper-based rights, we are beginning to see the public health sector engage more holistically with the health and mental health consequences of sexual violence, not to mention more specialised services for those who have experienced it.
I had erroneously assumed that the title Reclaiming The L-Word: Sappho’s Daughters Out In Africa ... more I had erroneously assumed that the title Reclaiming The L-Word: Sappho’s Daughters Out In Africa was just another loosely themed analogy with a catchy title. I anticipated another disjointed collection of papers espousing the conventional polarities of ‘othering’ and deconstructing the complex metaphysics of ‘gender identities’. I had even prepared myself for contrived ontologies and stubborn epistemologies to encroach my quiet Sunday afternoon. Admittedly, the title, not to mention the beautiful imagery on the cover, drew me in. Relieved that the title didn’t include clever equivoques for ‘embodiment’ or ‘contested’, I proceeded to flip the pages. The contents page, to my surprise, was filled with a series of simply titled stories. The stories themselves were powerful, evocative, moving and bold.
Medico-legal research has found that four women are murdered everyday by their intimate partners ... more Medico-legal research has found that four women are murdered everyday by their intimate partners in South Africa (Mathhews et aI., 2004). At least a third of these women sought assistance from the criminal justice system. Previous research on the implementation of South Africa's Domestic Violence Act [DVA] has found that there are critical attrition points in the criminal justice system where cases of domestic violence simply 'fall out' (Artz & Smythe, 2005a, 2007). Despite reporting incidents to the police and applying for protection orders, a significant proportion (over 50%) of victims do not return to court to have their temporary protection orders finalised by the courts (Artz 1998,2001). Against this background a study was undertaken with MOSAIC, a domestic violence intervention organisation in the Western Cape province of South Africa. The objective of the study was to identify the factors that contribute to domestic violence victims' withdrawal from the legal process before they ·finalise their protection orders. The research was conducted in four magisterial districts, namely, Bellville, Wynberg, Philippi and Khayelitsha. Over a three month period 365 victims of domestic violence were interviewed about their reasons for not returning to court to finalise their protection orders. Using an 'eclectic' theoretical framework, which draws on feminist jurisprudence scholarship and feminist empiricism, this research explores the personal, social and structural barriers that affect women's decisions to proceed with or retract from the criminal justice process. In the analysis of these barriers, it challenges feminist research and criminal justice practice to reconsider the nomenclature of the 'non-cooperative victim'. The transitional context of South Africa is critical to this analysis. It is argued that the construct of the non-cooperative victim both excludes the cumulative impact of victims' interactions with the criminal justice system and perpetuates the myth that women are intentionally and consciously obstructive; conduct which, in terms of research designed to explore 'victim non-cooperation', is enthusiastically scrutinised. It calls for a rigorous examination of 'system uncooperativeness' and highlights the critical failings of the criminal justice system that directly contribute to victim reluctance to proceed with finalising protection orders. Supplied by The British Library - 'The world's knowledge'EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
In a social and political context characterised by high rates of sexual violence and interest in ... more In a social and political context characterised by high rates of sexual violence and interest in the responsibilities of the state towards rape survivors, a specialist enclave of research is developing and re-defining sexual violence research in South Africa. Pressures to understand the extent, frequency and nature of sexual offences in light of current legal reforms by the state have resulted in a national panic to “quantify” the problem. The tendency has thus been to focus on the aims and objectives of sexual offence’s research rather than the complex methodological issues in executing research about ‘human subjects’ (survivors and service providers), their experiences with rape and the invasive nature of research. It is therefore the intention of this paper to provide some reflections on feminist research methodology, epistemological issues, and the ethics of sexual violence research.
Background. National estimates of childhood undernutrition display uncertainty; however, it is kn... more Background. National estimates of childhood undernutrition display uncertainty; however, it is known that stunting is the most prevalent deficiency. Child undernutrition is manifest in poor communities but is a modifiable risk factor. The intention of the study was to quantify trends in the indicators of child undernutrition to aid policymakers. Objectives. To estimate the burden of diseases attributable to stunting, wasting and underweight and their aggregate effects in South African (SA) children under the age of 5 years during 2000, 2006 and 2012. Methods. The study applied comparative risk assessment methodology. Data sources for estimates of prevalence and population distribution of exposure in children under 5 years were the National Food Consumption surveys and the SA National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted close to the target year of burden. Childhood undernutrition was estimated for stunting, wasting and underweight and their combined ‘aggregate effect’ u...
OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a behavioral intervention designed to promote female condoms and... more OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated a behavioral intervention designed to promote female condoms and reduce unprotected sex among women at high risk for acquiring sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). METHODS: The effect of the intervention on barrier use was evaluated with a pretest-posttest design with 1159 female STD clinic patients. RESULTS: Among participants with follow-up data, 79% used the female condom at least once and often multiple times. More than one third of those who completed the study used female condoms throughout follow-up. Use of barrier protection increased significantly after the intervention, and high use was maintained during a 6-month follow-up. To account for attrition, the use of protection by all subjects was projected under 3 conservative assumptions. The initial visit and termination visit projections suggest that use increased sharply after the intervention and declined during follow-up but remained elevated compared with the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Many ...
Global Perspectives on Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Across the Lifecourse, 2017
In this chapter we explore exposure to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV) ove... more In this chapter we explore exposure to sexual and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV) over the course of a lifetime, delineating the life course into particular age cohorts: children aged 0–12, adolescents aged 13–18, adults aged 19–59 and older adults aged 60+. We begin by briefly framing the international, regional (African) and domestic (South African) legal and policy contexts which shape approaches to SGBV prevention; these frameworks conceptualize what constitutes a "sexual violation," and offer different degrees of protection, based on these age demographics. While our domestic and empirical focus is on South Africa, our analysis has some application to other regions on the African continent, particularly Southern and East Africa. We highlight the particular vulnerabilities of children, of being in abusive relationships or households, living on or working from the street, substance abuse and of older adult women. To explicate the notion of compounding vulnerabilities we address in more detail the increased vulnerability of certain groups, including sexual and gender minorities, people with disabilities and migrants. While these vulnerabilities are experienced across global north and south contexts, we focus on the specific complexities of the South African context. Evidence of the scope of SGBV has resulted in both international and country-level legal reforms. While these are largely paper-based rights, we are beginning to see the public health sector engage more holistically with the health and mental health consequences of sexual violence, not to mention more specialised services for those who have experienced it.
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