<p>Despite community policing interventions, rape incidence in South Africa reflects a consistent increase over the past decade. Victim blame continues to be a pervasive aspect of this trauma - where society blames the victim more than the perpetrator for the rape. In unpacking the complexities of victim blame, research has identified sex role orientation of the observer as an important variable. Given that the polic service is often the first contact a rape victim has with the criminal justice system, this study investigated how sex role orientation impacts on rape victim blame in a sample of police officers.</p>

A report submitted to the University of Witwatersrand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in Sociology by Coursework and Research Report The Department of Sociology The Faculty of Humanities March 2016 / Rape is an important topic of enquiry in South Africa due to the high incidences of rape and the underreporting of the crime to legal authorities. This research is exploratory in nature and is concerned with how the four women interviewed employ specific narratives to aid or inhibit their ability to speak about their experience of being raped, and the ways in which rape survivors position themselves within their own stories and societal discourses of rape. A detailed analysis was done of the research available on hegemonic masculine power, societal discourses and myths about rape, silencing and personal and public narratives. Through this analysis rape is placed within a framework of patriarchy and control. Four female rape survivors living in Johannesburg were found using targeted sampling, and were interviewed using a recording devise and unstructured, one-on-one interviews. These interviews were transcribed and coded, and then analysed using Thematic Narrative Analysis. Great care was taken throughout the research process to ensure that it is ethical and that no harm was done to any of the interviewees or anyone else. It was found that each of the interviewees came to represent three distinct narratives, namely the stranger rape narrative, the date/acquaintance rape narrative and the child rape narrative. These narratives appear to sometimes be in tension and conflict with one another, creating confusion in the positionality and believability of the rape survivor. It was also found that narratives are often employed as ways of defining the experience of rape and challenging rape myths and public narratives of rape. The women interviewed for the purposes of this paper drew attention to various themes within their narratives, such as tensions between their own experience of rape and societal discourses of rape, empowerment, safe spaces to talk about trauma, education, consent and control. Further research could be conducted to explore this topic in greater detail and expand upon the knowledge that was gathered and investigated in this research report. / MT2017

The intention of this dissertation is to expose the gendered experiences of rape victims, based on the notion that while it should be the purpose of rape laws to protect victims of rape, in many circumstances the legal process results in disempowering experiences for victims, particularly women. Therefore, I suggest that the courtroom, a supposedly just space, is one which is laced with patriarchal undercurrents that work specifically against women. Rape is a complex and multi-faceted subject that is fast becoming an epidemic. In relation to HIV/AIDS and sexuality, the issue of rape certainly becomes compounded. Deconstructing the historical and cultural experiences of women is not only necessary in attempting to understand rape, but also the reasons why the justice system, which is dominantly a male domain, may still cling to patriarchal principles. One reason for the marginalization of rape victims may be the continued regard of women as second class citizens. The rape trial, in which Jacob Zuma was the alleged rapist, is a starting point, and by referring to this case, I intend to reveal and discuss weaknesses with regard to rape law within the South African context. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of rape survivors who were receiving Post Exposure Prophylaxis at a regional hospital. Methodology: A phenomenological approach was used to explore the phenomena, of rape survivors' perception and experiences concerning the Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) they received. The study was conducted in R.K.Khan Hospital, in an Outpatient Department in a gynaecology clinic. This is the regional hospital located in Chatsworth, in the Inner Outer West of Ethekwini District. The sample comprised of ten female rape survivors who were receiving Post Exposure Prophylaxis. Data was collected by means of face-to-face interviews using an interview guide. Interviews were lasting thirty to forty minutes long per participant. The researcher applied the principle of theoretical saturation of data and a total of ten participants were included in the study. All interviews were tape recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analysed manually using the Editing Analysis Style. Findings: The results of this study indicated that PEP is the new service to rape survivors and this evoked that when you are being raped you face a risk of range of immediate, medium, and long term health problems; physical, and psychological problems. The rape survivors described a number of emotions and physical reactions that they experienced when they were receiving PEP after rape, which were negative and positive reactions. Most experiences they faced indicated that they benefited from the PEP program, because they gained knowledge, got support from care providers and major diseases and complications were prevented by offering the Post Exposure Prophylaxis A number of recommendations were suggested for the provision of PEP program to the community that is for nursing practice, management and education, the policy makers and for future research in an 'attempt to prevent major complications and health problems that occur in rape survivors. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2005.

<p>Despite community policing interventions, rape incidence in South Africa reflects a consistent increase over the past decade. Victim blame continues to be a pervasive aspect of this trauma - where society blames the victim more than the perpetrator for the rape. In unpacking the complexities of victim blame, research has identified sex role orientation of the observer as an important variable. Given that the polic service is often the first contact a rape victim has with the criminal justice system, this study investigated how sex role orientation impacts on rape victim blame in a sample of police officers.</p>

Magister Psychologiae - MPsych / Despite community policing interventions, rape incidence in South Africa reflects a consistent increase over the past decade. Victim blame continues to be a pervasive aspect of this trauma - where society blames the victim more than the perpetrator for the rape. In unpacking the complexities of victim blame, research has identified sex role orientation of the observer as an important variable. Given that the polic service is often the first contact a rape victim has with the criminal justice system, this study investigated how sex role orientation impacts on rape victim blame in a sample of police officers. / South Africa

The prevalence of rape in South Africa has reached epidemic proportions. The experience of shame in a rape victim may impact on issues such as disclosure and avoidance (which increases posttraumatic stress severity (PSS)). It is also known that other cognitive vulnerabilities such as anxiety sensitivity, rumination, looming cognitive style, and attribution style impacts the severity of traumatic stress. These vulnerabilities overlap with the experience of shame conceptually. It remains unclear whether shame has a direct relationship with severity or whether it influences other dynamics that eventually contributes to increases in (PSS). 37 female adult rape survivors from a local NGO completed a biographical questionnaire and a variety of quantitative measures of shame (Experience of Shame Scale (ESS)), PSS (Harvard Trauma Questionnaire – Revised (HTQ-R)), anxiety sensitivity (Anxiety Sensitivity Index – 3(ASI-3)), rumination (Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ)), looming cognitive style (Looming Maladaptive Style Questionnaire (LMSQ)), and attribution style (Attribution Style Questionnaire (ASQ)). Initial explorations were done to determine the cross-group equivalence of these measures since it was the first time some of them were used in South Africa (and exclusively on rape survivors). The construct, semantic, and metric equivalence findings are reported for each measure. In this regard all measures apart from the ASQ had good internal consistency but factor analyses indicated that the measures are more reasonably seen to measure single factor constructs rather than the configuration presupposed by the constituent subscales. The evidence indicates that total scores may be used with some confidence in the construct validity and internal consistency of these measures (with the exception of the ASQ), but that subscale scores should not be over interpreted. Furthermore, the presence of cognitive constructs within the sample was explored and it was found that high levels of shame, PSS, and the cognitive vulnerabilities were present. Finally a multiple regression and concomitant analyses indicated that only knowing the perpetrator had any influence on the variables under study and that shame and rumination accounted for the largest amount of variance in PSS.

Dissertation / The impact of stranger rape on the victim and those close to the victim is widely researched. However, little data is available on couples’ experiences of stranger rape and their relationships in the aftermath of such trauma. The researcher aimed to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the unique experiences and relationship dynamics of couples dealing with stranger rape in order to enhance what is known about these couples. A qualitative research methodology was employed which consisted of conducting unstructured in-depth interviews with each of the three participant couples as well as obtaining individual written reflections from each participant. The study explicated unique descriptions of each couple’s experience of stranger rape, illuminated the interconnectedness and recursiveness between the rape and the couples’ relational and system dynamics and identified possible systemic effects at play in these couples’ relationships in the aftermath of such trauma. Key terms: stranger rape, couples, post-traumatic stress disorder, relational dynamics, systems, family systems theory, qualitative research, hermeneutics, social constructionism, postmodernism / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Dissertation / The impact of stranger rape on the victim and those close to the victim is widely researched. However, little data is available on couples’ experiences of stranger rape and their relationships in the aftermath of such trauma. The researcher aimed to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the unique experiences and relationship dynamics of couples dealing with stranger rape in order to enhance what is known about these couples. A qualitative research methodology was employed which consisted of conducting unstructured in-depth interviews with each of the three participant couples as well as obtaining individual written reflections from each participant. The study explicated unique descriptions of each couple’s experience of stranger rape, illuminated the interconnectedness and recursiveness between the rape and the couples’ relational and system dynamics and identified possible systemic effects at play in these couples’ relationships in the aftermath of such trauma. Key terms: stranger rape, couples, post-traumatic stress disorder, relational dynamics, systems, family systems theory, qualitative research, hermeneutics, social constructionism, postmodernism / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Text in English / The purpose of this study was to explore factors contributing to poor reporting of rape by school going adolescents. A qualitative descriptive study was conducted among the 16-19 year old school going adolescents in grade 10-12 living in Matsulu Township of South Africa. Data collection was done using audio-taped semi-structured focus group discussions and individual interviews. Non-probability sampling was utilised for the study and purposive sampling was used to identify participants. Content analysis as proposed by Polit and Beck (2012:557) was utilised for this study. The study’s findings indicated that non-reporting of rape by adolescents is linked to structural, psychological, socio-cultural and economic causes. The study recommends that a comprehensive integrated approach should be used. / Health Studies / M. A. (Nursing Science)