Mental health: Your rights
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South African women have been tirelessly rallying for an end to gender-based violence. Now it’s time for men to take a stand, find out why gender-based violence is so prevalent in SA and learn what they can do to really make a difference. Read on to join the fight…
Gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide are a widespread problem in South Africa, with stats published in the Crimes Against Women in South Africa report showing that femicide in South Africa is 5 times higher than the global average.
According to SaferSpaces, between 25% and 40% of South African women have experienced sexual or physical intimate partner violence, while just under 50% have experienced emotional or economic abuse by their partners in their lifetime.
‘We want to stop gender-based violence before it happens, and that requires tackling toxic masculinity and notions of patriarchy,’ said Bafana Khumalo, co-founder of Sonke Gender Justice, in an interview with the Daily Maverick.
Men play a key role in ending GBV, as they have influence over male social norms within their circles.
To make a real change, they need to speak to their friends, sons, fathers and brothers to help them unlearn the social norms that drive GBV.
‘There is a desperate absence of positive male figures in South African communities, and boys as young as 10 years old are recruited by gangs, perpetuating the cycle of violence,’ says Corna Olivier, a registered psychological counsellor. She adds that there is an overwhelming focus on intervention programmes for women and girls, but virtually none for males.
Some reasons why the cycle of GBV continues in SA include:
‘Women are the collateral damage in the battle raging within our boys and men. Anger is a secondary emotion, aggression the expression thereof. The primary emotion is fear. Men need to help men heal,’ says Corna. Men can do the following to help end the cycle:
For more insight into gender-based violence, read this helpful article:
For confidential assistance, contact Life EHS; SMS your name to 31581 and the Care Centre will call you back.
The information is shared on condition that readers will make their own determination, including seeking advice from a professional. E&OE.
References:
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