Abstract
Despite the existence of a constitutional legal framework, criminal sanctions to address violent behaviour by men are not enough. The killing of women by men has reached a disproportionate crescendo in South Africa. It is critical, that as a society we denounce the continuation of this trend and address the underlying causes of violent masculinity and physical abuse against women. Social norms, religious and traditional values, patriarchy, and gender relationships contribute to dominant notions of masculinity, which eventually undermine women's inalienable right of existence. Developing strategies to mitigate against intimate partner Gender-Based Violence is imperatively needed to curb these physical attacks on women. The purpose of this article is to highlight some forms and the causes of Gender-Based Violence, the impact of it, and with aim of finding lasting solutions to it. Some of the findings of the author are, first, religion has played a fundamental role to perpetuate gender-based Violence on women over time. Second, a clear understanding of different types of Gender-Based Violence is needed by both men and women in society before. Gender-Based Violence if not controlled and eliminated can lead to femicide as we have seen in South Africa in recent years. Third, more protective laws for women need to be properly implemented within our criminal justice process. Tougher and stiffer punishment for perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence is needed to curb the scourge of femicide, plaguing us in South Africa.
Highlights
Rates of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa remain unacceptably high: – One in three women in South Africa are victims of domestic violence – South Africa’s femicide rate is almost 5 times the global average – Every 8 hours a woman is killed by her intimate partner – 9 556 people were raped between July and September 2021
The author provides the reader with a detailed insight into the Extent of gender-based violence within the last few years, relying on the statistical reports, produced by the South African Police Service as follows: – In the year 2018/2019, 2771 were brutally killed by men – In the year 2017/2018,2930 were murdered, victims – In the year 2016/2017, 2639 women were killed by men – In the year 2015/2016, 2416 women were killed by men – In the year 2014/2015, 2234 women were murdered by men – In the year 2013/2014, 2354 women were killed by men [38]
In South Africa today, we cannot continue to hold claims that apartheid is a mono-causal explanation for the pervasive gender-based violence, plaguing us
Summary
Christianity and feminism Several religions over time since time immemorial have always historically treated women differently. In Christianity, the biblical creation story of Adam and Eve substantiates the author’s line of argument that women have always been treated differently by men. Women at the beginning of humanity were portrayed as too weak to be independent, introduced as a helper, subsequently created to support male hegemony and dominance. Women were portrayed as demonic possession who the serpent connived with and made Adam eat the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. Christianity has consciously or subconsciously made women to be held at suspicion by men. Women should not be trusted due to the historical genealogy of having the capacity to betray men. In the contemporary Roman Catholic Church women are not allowed to lead the church
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