Abstract
In this article, the author reports on how intergroup dialogue was used amongst Life Orientation (LO) student-teachers to deconstruct the heteropatriarchal notions of sexual consent, in the context of gender-based violence (GBV). Three sessions of intergroup dialogue were arranged between third-year student-teachers and female survivors of GBV from a local Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) in exploring the perceptions of sexual consent, to deepen their understanding regarding the concepts of shaming, blaming and silencing that perpetuate GBV in communities. Third-year LO student-teachers engaged in dialogue with four youth survivors of GBV from a local NPO who shared their experiences of GBV and sexual consent. The heteropatriarchal views to GBV held by student-teachers were disrupted through the dialogues between the two groups thus enabling a greater understanding of sexual consent and the role played by shaming, blaming and silencing of victims in perpetuating GBV. The findings highlighted that intergroup dialogue could be a useful tool in creating norm-critical and sex-positive schools and communities.
Highlights
The incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa has been an issue of concern for many years, resulting in President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing that ‘gender-based violence is South Africa’s second pandemic’ in June 2020.2 Gender-based violence affects one in three women in their lifetime according to the World Bank.[3]
I presented how I engaged my third-year student-teachers in a three-session intergroup dialogue process with the survivors of GBV from a local Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) to create a conducive environment for deconstructing heteropatriarchal notions of sexual consent and GBV
The identified three themes highlight a transformative engagement from socially constructed heteropatriarchal notions of sexual consent and GBV towards a caring and inclusive view to the promotion of sexual health and rights for all citizens, whether male or female
Summary
The incidence of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa has been an issue of concern for many years, resulting in President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing that ‘gender-based violence is South Africa’s second pandemic’ in June 2020.2 Gender-based violence affects one in three women in their lifetime according to the World Bank.[3]. Evidence of the scourge of GBV has been evident in much of the global research in educational settings, proving that learning institutions are often breeding grounds for unequal power dynamics that result in high rates of GBV.[4] The reality of violence for young women in colleges and universities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is worrying. Research on the barriers that girls and young women must overcome to access secondary school education or to get a chance at post-secondary education in many SSA countries highlights a struggle that is often against all odds.[5] Beyene et al.[6] conducted a meta-analysis and systematic review of studies on GBV amongst young women in schools, universities and colleges in SSA in which they reported high rates of various types of GBV with South Africa having the highest rates
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call