darn rape society in south africa

[vedia]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31456652/ns/world_news-africa/

Survey: 1 in 4 South African men admit to rape
Researcher describes findings as 'shocking' but 'not unexpected'
NBC World Blog

updated 8:27 a.m. ET, Sat., June 20, 2009

CAPE TOWN, South Africa - One in four male South Africans surveyed admitted to committing rape, according to a research group.

The government-funded Medical Research Council, whose findings often influence official policy, said it conducted the survey to deepen understanding of men's attitudes and behavior.

The finding has cast a harsh light on a culture of sexual violence that victims groups say is deeply embedded in society.
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According to police statistics, some 36,000 women were raped in 2007 — nearly 100 per day. But victim support groups and government-backed research say the vast majority of rapes go unreported because of the stigma and trauma involved. South Africa is home to about 50 million people.

'Normalized'
Chief researcher Rachel Jewkes said Friday that the findings were "shocking" but "not unexpected." Opposition political parties said they were horrified, but victim support groups said they were not surprised.

"The report indicates that rape has become 'normalized' as a feature of masculine identity in a society that has emerged from years of oppression — a tragic development for both women and for men," said Anne Marie Goetz, chief of the Governance, Peace and Security section of the United Nations Development Fund for Women.

"The implications of this are grave for women's security but also for long-term development, which relies upon deepening gender equality," Goetz said.

South Africa's newly installed president, Jacob Zuma, has made combating crime one of his top priorities and has set up a new ministry to promote women's and children's rights.

The government had no immediate comment, but the study is expected to be one of the focal points of a conference on sexual violence early next month.

"Rape is a crime of a sense of entitlement. It comes from a notion of power," Jewkes said, adding that South Africa's male dominated cultural traditions were partly to blame.

"I don't think there is a quick fix," said Jewkes. "If people were concerted about trying to fix it, it would take a generation."

Researchers interviewed men from just over 1,700 households from a cross-section of the population in the rural provinces of the eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

Sensitive topic
The survey gave no margin of error. The research council is internationally respected and regarded as reliable. It said it surveyed a representative cross-section of men of all races in the two provinces, which are representative of South Africa.

It was not immediately known if any comparable surveys on this sensitive topic have been published. Sexual abuse is rife in a number of African countries but none have the sophisticated survey methods of South Africa, and in some other countries it is a taboo subject.

Nearly 28 percent of men interviewed said they had forced a woman or girl to have sexual intercourse against her will, according to the survey. It said that 14 percent said they had raped a former or current girlfriend; 12 percent said they had raped someone who was not their partner; and 10 percent said they had raped both a stranger and a partner.

The research council survey said that nearly 20 percent of those who admitted sexual abuse had the AIDS virus — only slightly higher than the 18 percent infection rate among men not involved in rape.

Violence
It said that 17 percent of the men surveyed admitted to attempted rape, and 9 percent said they had taken part in gang rapes. In all, 42 percent of men surveyed said they had been physically violent to an intimate partner (current or ex-girlfriend or wife), including 14 percent in the past year.

"Our study suggests that the pathway which leads to these ideas and the practices of rape and other forms of violence toward women starts in childhood," said Jewkes, head of the research council's gender and health unit. She said the results backed up findings of earlier research among younger men.

She said that "rape is far too common, and its origins too deeply embedded in ideas about South African manhood," for it to be regarded merely as a criminal problem which could be solved by prosecuting the rapists.

"You can't change behavior practiced by one quarter of the population if the main strategy is through the use of police and courts," Jewkes told The Associated Press. "The police and courts are important but they are only part of the solution."

Many victim support groups complain that rape cases are repeatedly postponed and little is done to protect the woman from the trauma of facing her tormentor. Most cases don't even reach court.

"Rape is one of the most brutal human rights violations in the world," said Maria Jose Alcala, who heads the U.N. development fund's effort to curtail violence against women. "It is a stark manifestation of just how little value our societies place on the lives and dignity of women and girls."

[Sprite09]

WTF is wrong these guys? I think they need major education that rape is not OK culturally. Is it possibly because the legal system is lax too?

[Octavius]

...wow >:(

Makes me sick that rape has gotten "normalized" in that country/culture.

Any person that rapes another ought to be shot in the genitalia, and chained to an immovable rock in the boiling hot sun or freezing cold winter...followed by a bullet to the head after a day of suffering :mad:

[wallop]

I hate to say it, but I believe it's a hangover from where Africa is on the scale of civilization development. In early pre-history I imagine rape was very common, particularly between warring tribes (to the victor, the spoils, etc.).

This is still true today in times of war, and it is only in modern, first world armies that this practice is limited (notice I don't say eliminated). I believe there was quite a bit of rape going on in the former Yugoslavia during their wars.

There may be an evolutionary aspect to it as well. After all, those that have the most sex, consensual or otherwise, with the most women are more likely to have their genes passed on. This of course wars with the long and arduous process of raising children. But men are built to succeed in passing their genes on in the face of competition from other men (shape of penis, so-called "killer"/"blocker" sperm, etc.; I'm too lazy to find the links), and I would hazard to say that the woman's feelings were not often consulted.

African culture in many areas is very primitive, stone-age culture that has been forced rapidly into a modern world. That's not an indictment, just reality. They are not at the point where their moral codes have caught up with the outward appearance.

I can go on and on... let's hear from some others...

[AnnaBanana]

I hate to say it, but I believe it's a hangover from where Africa is on the scale of civilization development. In early pre-history I imagine rape was very common, particularly between warring tribes (to the victor, the spoils, etc.).

This is still true today in times of war, and it is only in modern, first world armies that this practice is limited (notice I don't say eliminated). I believe there was quite a bit of rape going on in the former Yugoslavia during their wars.

There may be an evolutionary aspect to it as well. After all, those that have the most sex, consensual or otherwise, with the most women are more likely to have their genes passed on. This of course wars with the long and arduous process of raising children. But men are built to succeed in passing their genes on in the face of competition from other men (shape of penis, so-called "killer"/"blocker" sperm, etc.; I'm too lazy to find the links), and I would hazard to say that the woman's feelings were not often consulted.

African culture in many areas is very primitive, stone-age culture that has been forced rapidly into a modern world. That's not an indictment, just reality. They are not at the point where their moral codes have caught up with the outward appearance.

I can go on and on... let's hear from some others...

+100
So weird to read such an intelligent post on RFD that i actually agree with!

[Sprite09]

In soviet Russia woman rapes men :S http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25658928-948,00.html

[pupazzo]

My friend was raped when he was in SA. They thought he was a chick because he had long hair lol

[radeonboy]

Obviously I don't support this stuff in any way, kind or form. I think the criminal should be tortured and killed, personally speaking.

But I think the biggest way to fight this is 1) education in general 2) instill in the minds of the people that these things are wrong any way you look at it.

I remember reading something disturbing about rape in an country that its a problem. I remember reading about a guy who thought by raping women that it would cure them of their AIDS/disease. I mean WTF do you say to this?

Education is key. All these people in third world countries need education to help them out of their circumstances. If they all had better education, it would be world changing.

[flexwong]

south africa better step up security for the world cup in 2010.

[hello2006]

Obviously I don't support this stuff in any way, kind or form. I think the criminal should be tortured and killed, personally speaking.

But I think the biggest way to fight this is 1) education in general 2) instill in the minds of the people that these things are wrong any way you look at it.

I remember reading something disturbing about rape in an country that its a problem. I remember reading about a guy who thought by raping women that it would cure them of their AIDS/disease. I mean WTF do you say to this?

Education is key. All these people in third world countries need education to help them out of their circumstances. If they all had better education, it would be world changing.


yea i hard that too it's pretty messed up

[fakishan]

Before giving them education, you might want to pull out all foreign corporations from there so they don't influence the political landscape of the African continent. Instability profits our corporations because then they don't have to deal with environmental and human rights.

Schools won't run without a proper government to manage them.

[Aznkid2000]

In soviet Russia woman rapes men :S http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25658928-948,00.html

amazing at the last comment the guy made

[Sepiraph]

Yea SA is a very messed up place, damn shame what happened to that country. One of my coworkers is from there and his mom actually got kidnapped before (she is ok now).

[yucksta]

I hate to say it, but I believe it's a hangover from where Africa is on the scale of civilization development. In early pre-history I imagine rape was very common, particularly between warring tribes (to the victor, the spoils, etc.).

This is still true today in times of war, and it is only in modern, first world armies that this practice is limited (notice I don't say eliminated). I believe there was quite a bit of rape going on in the former Yugoslavia during their wars.

There may be an evolutionary aspect to it as well. After all, those that have the most sex, consensual or otherwise, with the most women are more likely to have their genes passed on. This of course wars with the long and arduous process of raising children. But men are built to succeed in passing their genes on in the face of competition from other men (shape of penis, so-called "killer"/"blocker" sperm, etc.; I'm too lazy to find the links), and I would hazard to say that the woman's feelings were not often consulted.

African culture in many areas is very primitive, stone-age culture that has been forced rapidly into a modern world. That's not an indictment, just reality. They are not at the point where their moral codes have caught up with the outward appearance.

I can go on and on... let's hear from some others...

Are you serious?

Rape was also very commonly perpetuated by the so-called "civilized" Europeans and Arabs that came to Africa, colonized it, stole its people and resources ...

I'm sure in no way has the brutal history of oppression in South Africa by its invaders had an influence on the violence that plagues that country today by setting a model for the expression of power in this society, it's all due to the native South African people's backwardness..sure!

The reasons for the violence against women in South Africa like anywhere else are a bit more complicated and interwoven with the overall history of South Africa than an arm chair analysis on an internet forum can provide.

But I'll say this, personally I don't buy the it's because they're primitive argument. There are many so-called "primitive" populations whose moral codes and ways of living could teach us a thing or two about how to treat one another...and it wasn't too long when civilized Europeans were running around raping the natives from Australia to South America, with men like Thomas Aquinas arguing that rape was better than masturbation....

My 2 cents.

Peace.

[nuberific]

Are you serious?

Rape was also very commonly perpetuated by the so-called "civilized" Europeans and Arabs that came to Africa, colonized it, stole its people and resources ...

I'm sure in no way has the brutal history of oppression in South Africa by its invaders had an influence on the violence that plagues that country today by setting a model for the expression of power in this society, it's all due to the native South African people's backwardness..sure!

The reasons for the violence against women in South Africa like anywhere else are a bit more complicated and interwoven with the overall history of South Africa than an arm chair analysis on an internet forum can provide.

But I'll say this, personally I don't buy the it's because they're primitive argument. There are many so-called "primitive" populations whose moral codes and ways of living could teach us a thing or two about how to treat one another...and it wasn't too long when civilized Europeans were running around raping the natives from Australia to South America, with men like Thomas Aquinas arguing that rape was better than masturbation....

My 2 cents.

Peace.

+1 I was thinking something along those lines but couldn't find the words to articulate it. The worst thing is when western people screw a place up, then we turn around and say, 'Damn, those people sure are primitive! They should do exactly what we did so they can become civilized like us (minus the part where we committed necessary atrocities of course). And of course we'll sit by and conveniently generate enormous profits while you sacrifice your natural, social, and political capital.'

[jayisthebest88]

I hate to say it, but I believe it's a hangover from where Africa is on the scale of civilization development. In early pre-history I imagine rape was very common, particularly between warring tribes (to the victor, the spoils, etc.).

This is still true today in times of war, and it is only in modern, first world armies that this practice is limited (notice I don't say eliminated). I believe there was quite a bit of rape going on in the former Yugoslavia during their wars.

There may be an evolutionary aspect to it as well. After all, those that have the most sex, consensual or otherwise, with the most women are more likely to have their genes passed on. This of course wars with the long and arduous process of raising children. But men are built to succeed in passing their genes on in the face of competition from other men (shape of penis, so-called "killer"/"blocker" sperm, etc.; I'm too lazy to find the links), and I would hazard to say that the woman's feelings were not often consulted.

African culture in many areas is very primitive, stone-age culture that has been forced rapidly into a modern world. That's not an indictment, just reality. They are not at the point where their moral codes have caught up with the outward appearance.

I can go on and on... let's hear from some others...

I was gonna say the same thing but in a slightly more racist way.

[Muncher]

Men there have a need to prove their self-worth, versus other tribes, versus the "whites", versus each other. Where there is low or no education, no moral values for guidance, no money for weapons, no intellectual debate - the easiest way for them to vent their anger, helplessness and low self-esteem is to rape the weaker gender.

It is the most cowardly way of trying to feel powerful. Rapists should be castrated - they not only destroy the lives of their victims and families, they spread HIV through Africa like infected animals. I'm sure the number is double that which is reported to police ...

[shannn]

Unfortunately, many men in southern Africa still believe that if you have sex with a virgin, you will be cured of AIDS / HIV >:(

[babynorth]

Rape was also very commonly perpetuated by the so-called "civilized" Europeans and Arabs that came to Africa, colonized it, stole its people and resources ....

I agree with that statement. That's where S. Africans, learned that barbaric behaviour from their oppressors.


south africa better step up security for the world cup in 2010.

What kind of security? Rape police task force or (RSI) Rape Security Intelligence.:D

[fakishan]

Unfortunately, many men in southern Africa still believe that if you have sex with a virgin, you will be cured of AIDS / HIV >:(

Actually this has been proved wrong by the same organization that first published it, that this is extremely rare, and that in most of these cases, the men were paedophiles who used it as an excuse.

Much like pedo fathers here say they were just giving their daughters a sexual education. This is why I cringe when "Christians" here say they don't want schools to give sex ed to their children, that it's something parents should take care off alone.

It's playing stupid so you don't look evil, often resulting in lesser sentences because the blame is spread to the "shamans" who perpetuate this myth of curing aids.

[Sprite09]

I agree with that statement. That's where S. Africans, learned that barbaric behaviour from their oppressors.
What kind of security? Rape police task force or (RSI) Rape Security Intelligence.:D



My 2 cents:

Although it is fashionable these days to blame others and not take any responsibility at all for your actions. eg African guy rapes African woman because he was shown how by Europeans (which I find absurd and racist), rape is built into humankind just like warmongering and murder.

Africans rape without European meddling just as viciously because:

We evolved from more primitive animals where mating was the goal. Think back 10 thousand,100 thousand,millions years ago, females were seen as resource, just like food or water to primitive man. Men and groups of humans fought over who they could capture and who they could mate with. No such thing as rape laws back then.

So to blame very recent homo sapien group of men divided by skin colour, country, religion, etc for being the teachers of rape is silly and racist, because rape comes from our animal side that has been with us through evolution.

Only though education, firm laws, and enlightened minds do people (particularly men) learn to treat women with respect and not as object to be used with as they please.

The same thing goes for murder, its because of the animal inside us. It was not taught to a group of people, it is built in driven by the need to survive.


What people should focus on is strategies of making rape stop. I'm talking about the government of African countries to take a huge role, also any church leaders and social leaders of those communities.

[nuberific]

My 2 cents:

Although it is fashionable these days to blame others and not take any responsibility at all for your actions. eg African guy rapes African woman because he was shown how by Europeans (which I find absurd and racist), rape is built into humankind just like warmongering and murder.

Africans rape without European meddling just as viciously because:

We evolved from more primitive animals where mating was the goal. Think back 10 thousand,100 thousand,millions years ago, females were seen as resource, just like food or water to primitive man. Men and groups of humans fought over who they could capture and who they could mate with. No such thing as rape laws back then.

So to blame very recent homo sapien group of men divided by skin colour, country, religion, etc for being the teachers of rape is silly and racist, because rape comes from our animal side that has been with us through evolution.

Only though education, firm laws, and enlightened minds do people (particularly men) learn to treat women with respect and not as object to be used with as they please.

The same thing goes for murder, its because of the animal inside us. It was not taught to a group of people, it is built in driven by the need to survive.


What people should focus on is strategies of making rape stop. I'm talking about the government of African countries to take a huge role, also any church leaders and social leaders of those communities.

Then again, it was fashionable to blame people for their own problems 30 years ago. The problem with saying that's it's all primal is that it absolves us of responsibility and washes our hands of this issue, thereby blaming the victim.

Even if westerners didn't directly teacher South Africans to become rapists, we set the precendece for their current socioeconomic conditions in which rape becomes very much part of everyday life. In other words, if Europeans never 'discovered' and initiated African slavery thus destroying their entire way of living then they may not be in their current predicament. Even if you don't consider the slavery, we've completely destroyed their economic system by forcing upon them structural adjustment programs that advocate the cutting of social spending and ramping up agriculture solely for exporting at dirt cheap prices. Except the problem is that currency may not even be necessary in the first place and they may have been getting along fine with a bartering system.

So the point I'm trying to make is that we create the environment that allows rape to be commonday whether we like it or not. And by we I mean our entire culture and not ourselves directly.

Oh and another issue I have with calling rape primal is that it implies being raped is also natural. If it's primal, and primal is natural, then what's the problem? Further, it implies we're above them because we're 'evolving' away from natural and they're still primitive and 'unevolved'. They're not; they're screwed by us.

[babynorth]

My 2 cents:

Although it is fashionable these days to blame others and not take any responsibility at all for your actions. eg African guy rapes African woman because he was shown how by Europeans (which I find absurd and racist), rape is built into humankind just like warmongering and murder.


Don't forget many S.Africans are not black, but are white and in fact do consider themselves Africans.


Africans rape without European meddling just as viciously because:

We evolved from more primitive animals where mating was the goal. Think back 10 thousand,100 thousand,millions years ago, females were seen as resource, just like food or water to primitive man. Men and groups of humans fought over who they could capture and who they could mate with. No such thing as rape laws back then.

Sorry, not everybody believes we evolved from apes or monkeys. But if you accept that you evolved from primitive animals, I will accept it. :lol:


So to blame very recent homo sapien group of men divided by skin colour, country, religion, etc for being the teachers of rape is silly and racist, because rape comes from our animal side that has been with us through evolution.

I don't believe Darwin's theory of evolution.


Only though education, firm laws, and enlightened minds do people (particularly men) learn to treat women with respect and not as object to be used with as they please.

We have education and laws, but rape still exists in our society.


The same thing goes for murder, its because of the animal inside us. It was not taught to a group of people, it is built in driven by the need to survive.

I don't have a built in need to murder to survive, do you?


What people should focus on is strategies of making rape stop. I'm talking about the government of African countries to take a huge role, also any church leaders and social leaders of those communities.

We can't judge governments of African countries, when rape has not been eradicated in our society.

S.Africa is predominately Christian, so an additional million church leaders and churches on every corner, can't be a solution to the problem.

[DGTD]

south africa... nuff said

[Sprite09]

Don't forget many S.Africans are not black, but are white and in fact do consider themselves Africans.

Sorry, not everybody believes we evolved from apes or monkeys. But if you accept that you evolved from primitive animals, I will accept it. :lol:

I don't buy into that theory.

I don't have a built in need to murder to survive, do you?


S.Africa is predominately Christian, so an additional million church leaders and churches on every corner, can't be a solution to the problem.



Wow you are crazy on so many levels.

who cares about white or black? I am talking Homo Sapiens of all colours, creeds. Can you name a culture, country on Earth that does not have rape victims? No because all humans are capable of rape. (predominately men)
Thats why you blaming Europeans from a few hundred years ago makes no sense.

You don't believe even in evolution? umm ok so humans just plopped down onto earth all of a sudden. ok then, I'm not even going to go there.

Everyone has a murderer inside them. If I put you in a room and others are going to kill you and you have a gun, for sure you will fire. That is your built in need to survive.

Christian or not, I wrote gov't has to get involved big time, not just church leaders, but social leaders too.

I'm not talking of judging others I'm talking about their leaders stepping in to give more support to women and educate the men, anything to reduce the rape count.


"We have education and laws, but rape still exists in our society. "
Yeas but here it is not 1 in 4 men raping!!!! That is the problem there.

[babynorth]

Wow you are crazy on so many levels.

Yep, I'm crazy so what ... I'm taking my medication:D


You don't believe even in evolution? umm ok so humans just plopped down onto earth all of a sudden. ok then, I'm not even going to go there.

Relax, I didn't say that, I just don't believe in the theory, that's all.


Everyone has a murderer inside them. If I put you in a room and others are going to kill you and you have a gun, for sure you will fire.

Umm no, I disagree. How many people are in the room? I think I would be outnumbered and disarmed >:(



I'm not talking of judging others I'm talking about their leaders stepping in to give more support to women and educate the men, anything to reduce the rape count.

Maybe, 1 in 6 men raping is more acceptable number for you. Would that make you feel better than?

[Sprite09]

Then again, it was fashionable to blame people for their own problems 30 years ago. The problem with saying that's it's all primal is that it absolves us of responsibility and washes our hands of this issue, thereby blaming the victim.

Even if westerners didn't directly teacher South Africans to become rapists, we set the precendece for their current socioeconomic conditions in which rape becomes very much part of everyday life. In other words, if Europeans never 'discovered' and initiated African slavery thus destroying their entire way of living then they may not be in their current predicament. Even if you don't consider the slavery, we've completely destroyed their economic system by forcing upon them structural adjustment programs that advocate the cutting of social spending and ramping up agriculture solely for exporting at dirt cheap prices. Except the problem is that currency may not even be necessary in the first place and they may have been getting along fine with a bartering system.

So the point I'm trying to make is that we create the environment that allows rape to be commonday whether we like it or not. And by we I mean our entire culture and not ourselves directly.

Oh and another issue I have with calling rape primal is that it implies being raped is also natural. If it's primal, and primal is natural, then what's the problem? Further, it implies we're above them because we're 'evolving' away from natural and they're still primitive and 'unevolved'. They're not; they're screwed by us.


Rape is not natural aka acceptable because it happens in nature, you are interpreting my comments in a weird way (but for primitive man thousands of years ago might have been their only opportunity to reproduce, to make children, they did not have the same respect for women), and again no one is suggesting western culture is more evolved than African culture, that is your interpretation putting a spin on things.

I don't see how you can consider the rapist to be the victim. I don't.


An African man who rapes is not absolved by blaming Europeans, he is responsible for his crime.
If this is how men are thinking in Africa then no wonder the rape is so high, hey we'll just blame Europeans, not my fault! Take some responsibly man and don't just blame others for what you did.

I do believe rape is an animal throw back to when women were regarded as a resource by primitive man. Meaning it was not taught in the last few hundred years.

Everyone on Earth has a responsibility to take care of one another. But because of greed we don't But the quickest and most effective solutions will come from the Africans themselves. Their leaders and gov't, not just the rest of us throwing money at them through the U.N.

Also the slave trade had just as many African leaders running the system so to Blame Europeans alone is very misleading. It was all about money (currency or bartered goods or technology tools, knives, guns) and Africans sold other Africans to make money, often omitted by the politically correct. African leaders (chiefs of tribes) and their people were responsible for rounding up (trapping) slaves from other tribes for example.


I do agree that Europeans are at partially responsible for Africa toady and its economic situation ( omitting conveniently the ruthless genocidal African dictators, drought, etc) but to say "Europeans educated Africans how to rape", that is racist, because is something from evolution.

Ask your self was there rape in Africa before Europeans arrived? Yes obviously, so how could Europeans teach them rape? Very silly.

[Sprite09]

Yep, I'm crazy so what ... I'm taking my medication:D



Relax, I didn't say that, I just don't believe in the theory, that's all.



Umm no, I disagree. How many people are in the room? I think I would be outnumbered and disarmed >:(



Maybe, 1 in 6 men raping is more acceptable number for you. Would that make you feel better than?

No, 1 in 6 men raping is bad too, I suspect the number is 1 in 10 for example in Canada probability less. That is besides the point. The point is helping get the number from 1 in 4 to much lower.

You can joke around on the forum, but if your life was in risk, you would do what you could to survive, which includes killing some one before they killed you. You would be driven by fear of death and the will to survive.

[yucksta]

for the record i'm not saying europeans taught south africans to rape, but the reasons for why this is such a huge problem in south africa are complicated and multi-faceted...you can't just say oh, it's because they're primitive (whatever that means), or blame it all on history and the chaos that is south africa day today because of its history ... it's a combination of factors and it's not a way of absolving blame from the perpetrators of the crime. it's trying to understand the situation from a big picture perspective.

I just took offense to all whole "where Africa is on the scale of civilization" comment, given a very recent history where a race that proclaimed itself "civilized' and above others, went around the globe raping ... there's more than a hint of ugly racism there.

[Chanpod]

Animals.

[Sprite09]

I'm beyond blaming Europeans and Africans ad naseum.


IMO
The U.N. in collaboration with African leaders and womens groups need to:

1) make the environment safer for women, by building safe haven homes for single women, buddy system when traveling, self defense classes, etc.

2) Men need their perspective about women changes through advertisements on tv, serious tv programs on the subject, classes for young boys on how to treat women with respect.

3) Gov't need to step in with longer criminal sentences, visits to jail for teenagers on school trips to see how bad it is there.

4) religious leaders need to step up with sermons, education, and the church should spend some money building safe havens too.

5) Perhaps a armed section of the police to patrol the streets who can help in areas of high rape.

thats all I have to say about the subject.

[radeonboy]

Are you serious?

Rape was also very commonly perpetuated by the so-called "civilized" Europeans and Arabs that came to Africa, colonized it, stole its people and resources ...

I'm sure in no way has the brutal history of oppression in South Africa by its invaders had an influence on the violence that plagues that country today by setting a model for the expression of power in this society, it's all due to the native South African people's backwardness..sure!

The reasons for the violence against women in South Africa like anywhere else are a bit more complicated and interwoven with the overall history of South Africa than an arm chair analysis on an internet forum can provide.

But I'll say this, personally I don't buy the it's because they're primitive argument. There are many so-called "primitive" populations whose moral codes and ways of living could teach us a thing or two about how to treat one another...and it wasn't too long when civilized Europeans were running around raping the natives from Australia to South America, with men like Thomas Aquinas arguing that rape was better than masturbation....

My 2 cents.

Peace.

Good thing I don't know Thomas Aquinas because he is a dumbass.

[babynorth]

I hate to say it, but I believe it's a hangover from where Africa is on the scale of civilization development. In early pre-history I imagine rape was very common, particularly between warring tribes (to the victor, the spoils, etc.).



African culture in many areas is very primitive, stone-age culture that has been forced rapidly into a modern world. That's not an indictment, just reality. They are not at the point where their moral codes have caught up with the outward appearance.

I can go on and on... let's hear from some others...

Many people would take offense.


I just took offense to all whole "where Africa is on the scale of civilization" comment, given a very recent history where a race that proclaimed itself "civilized' and above others, went around the globe raping ... there's more than a hint of ugly racism there.

+1 I'm so glad you tackled and addressed this issue. Teach

The worst thing is when western people screw a place up, then we turn around and say, 'Damn, those people sure are primitive! They should do exactly what we did so they can become civilized like us (minus the part where we committed necessary atrocities of course). And of course we'll sit by and conveniently generate enormous profits while you sacrifice your natural, social, and political capital.'

Word

[shannn]

Actually this has been proved wrong by the same organization that first published it, that this is extremely rare, and that in most of these cases, the men were paedophiles who used it as an excuse.

Much like pedo fathers here say they were just giving their daughters a sexual education. This is why I cringe when "Christians" here say they don't want schools to give sex ed to their children, that it's something parents should take care off alone.

It's playing stupid so you don't look evil, often resulting in lesser sentences because the blame is spread to the "shamans" who perpetuate this myth of curing aids.

Oh, yikes, never thought of it that way. >:( That is pretty frightening.

But yea, sex ed should be taught to all.

[vedia]

Many people would take offense.



Don't take offense, the fact is people in Africa are primitive. Better off to face to truth than to live in denial. The stuff that goes on in Africa, still pretty much a tribe society there, comon, its not like the rest of the world is trying to catch up to Africa in terms of development. Those darn Africans and their advance civilizations, yesterday they just invented the wheel and the loin cloth, the rest of the world needs to stop slacking off and catch up lol.

[RaTeD]

don't take offense, the fact is people in africa are primitive. Better off to face to truth than to live in denial. The stuff that goes on in africa, still pretty much a tribe society there, comon, its not like the rest of the world is trying to catch up to africa in terms of development. Those darn africans and their advance civilizations, yesterday they just invented the wheel and the loin cloth, the rest of the world needs to stop slacking off and catch up lol.

lmao...so dry

[babynorth]

Don't take offense, the fact is people in Africa are primitive. Better off to face to truth than to live in denial. The stuff that goes on in Africa, still pretty much a tribe society there, comon, its not like the rest of the world is trying to catch up to Africa in terms of development. Those darn Africans and their advance civilizations, yesterday they just invented the wheel and the loin cloth, the rest of the world needs to stop slacking off and catch up lol.

none taken, its in your nature :D

[yucksta]

I agree with everything you wrote Sprite.

But here's the thing, I don't think that the people that post these kinds of articles in a forum like RFD or respond to them in the manner that they do, are looking for solutions.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into their responses, but I get the strong sense that some people just want to use these kinds of stories as evidence of the racial/cultural inferiority of a particular group, in this case South Africans, and in general, all Black Africans.

I'm beyond blaming Europeans and Africans ad naseum.


IMO
The U.N. in collaboration with African leaders and womens groups need to:

1) make the environment safer for women, by building safe haven homes for single women, buddy system when traveling, self defense classes, etc.

2) Men need their perspective about women changes through advertisements on tv, serious tv programs on the subject, classes for young boys on how to treat women with respect.

3) Gov't need to step in with longer criminal sentences, visits to jail for teenagers on school trips to see how bad it is there.

4) religious leaders need to step up with sermons, education, and the church should spend some money building safe havens too.

5) Perhaps a armed section of the police to patrol the streets who can help in areas of high rape.

thats all I have to say about the subject.

[at1212b]

This is not news. It as been known and around for quite sometime. And that's not evening mentioning Infant Rape.

That's right, INFANT RAPE. No further explanation needed (several years back, the Globe and Mail had a nice long article about it.. the most sickening article I have ever read).

[radeonboy]

This is not news. It as been known and around for quite sometime. And that's not evening mentioning Infant Rape.

That's right, INFANT RAPE. No further explanation needed (several years back, the Globe and Mail had a nice long article about it.. the most sickening article I have ever read).

I think I remember hearing about infant rape on Oprah. Damnit whoever does such **** should be tortured and be fed to the animals. They deserve total cruelty to them. Totally satanic deserves death.

[babynorth]

Maybe I'm just reading too much into their responses, but I get the strong sense that some people just want to use these kinds of stories as evidence of the racial/cultural inferiority of a particular group, in this case South Africans, and in general, all Black Africans.

IMHO it's called inferiority complex manifestation.

This is not news. It as been known and around for quite sometime. And that's not evening mentioning Infant Rape.

Infant rape is So evil, its beyond my comprehension to even comment.

[vedia]

yep, infant rape

what stinks?

http://lattenomics.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/no-past-to-speak-of-a-story-of-infant-rape-in-south-africa/

[CrackBaby]

There was a good invention a few years ago. It was a product called RapeX, I don't know if it's still on the market but it was developed by a rape clinic somewhere in south africa.

It is basically a rigidish female condom with plastic barbs so a rapist's penis gets hooked sort of similar to a fishhook and the idea is he will then run away in pain and have to go to a hospital where he can be charged (only surgical removal is possible).

Arguments against that may have caused the products failure, governments considered it a weapon. It had the potential to be abused against an innocent man. And questions about whether an attacker would actually run away or want to hurt the victim more.

[fakishan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8115219.stm

When I was 15 years old, I took part in a gang rape.

Before the incident, I was constantly jeered for not being man enough. At the time I was not ready to have a girlfriend when all my friends did.

I did not tend the cattle or sheep, nor did I attend the initiation school [where South African teenagers are circumcised in traditional rites of passage]. This fuelled my daily jeers.

A friend and my cousin pressured me to prove that I was man enough, by taking part in the rape of a teenage girl in the village. This was termed "straightening her up", since she did not want to go out with any of the local boys.

I succumbed to this daily pressure and on the day of the incident, when they saw me trembling with fear, they ordered me to take marijuana and beer to defeat my fears. I did just that and the two of us [my friend and I] proceeded to rape the girl.

Afterwards, I was terrified.

I felt guilty but also scared that the news could reach my mother who had a high standing in the community.

The following day, when we went for our soccer practice, this incident was reported to all the other football players. On hearing the news, they sang and clapped as if we had done something right. This helped to stop the jeering somewhat and I was allowed to associate with the other boys.

I still felt guilty, at least partially so, especially when I saw the girl in the village. Sometimes I tried to avoid meeting her. But slowly, over time, I began to think less and less about the incident.

Story continues..