Re-framing women’s agency in #Blessed sex: Intersectional dilemmas for African women’s theologies

2021 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beverley Haddad
Keyword(s):  
Economic Analysis ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Theological Reflection ◽  
African Women ◽  
Sexual Ethics ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Dominant Ideologies ◽  
Alternative Masculinities ◽  
Gender Based

The Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians has since its inception, affirmed the agency of women in their theological reflection and praxis. In doing so, they have called on their male colleagues to stand in solidarity with them in forging alternative masculinities that renew culture, curb gender-based violence and mitigate HIV infection. This essay argues that there are three assumptions that form the basis of the work of the Circle theologians. Firstly, that women seek to be in egalitarian relationships with men that bring dignity and respect. Secondly, women assert their agency to achieve this goal and in so doing bring healing and wholeness to both groups who are transformed through this process. Thirdly, women assert their agency in solidarity with other women as they build alternative egalitarian communities. Yet, the recent phenomenon of the #Blessed community of young women who seek out ‘blessers’, older men who engage them in transactional sex, in order to fund opulent lifestyles contradicts these assumptions. Their agency embraces non-liberative ideology and practice and chooses not to unseat the dominant ideologies of hetero- and econo-patriarchy.Contribution: The essay concludes that a lack of sustained economic analysis and engaged theological reflection on sexual ethics means the Circle is ill-equipped to respond to the challenge posed by the #Blessed community of young women.

THE SINS OF THE FATHER: GENDER- BASED VIOLENCE IN POST-APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 57-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lyn Snodgrass
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Black Women ◽  
South African ◽  
African Women ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
Race And Gender ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender ◽  
South African Women

This article explores the complexities of gender-based violence in post-apartheid South Africa and interrogates the socio-political issues at the intersection of class, ‘race’ and gender, which impact South African women. Gender equality is up against a powerful enemy in societies with strong patriarchal traditions such as South Africa, where women of all ‘races’ and cultures have been oppressed, exploited and kept in positions of subservience for generations. In South Africa, where sexism and racism intersect, black women as a group have suffered the major brunt of this discrimination and are at the receiving end of extreme violence. South Africa’s gender-based violence is fuelled historically by the ideologies of apartheid (racism) and patriarchy (sexism), which are symbiotically premised on systemic humiliation that devalues and debases whole groups of people and renders them inferior. It is further argued that the current neo-patriarchal backlash in South Africa foments and sustains the subjugation of women and casts them as both victims and perpetuators of pervasive patriarchal values.

scholarly journals Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of integrating screening for gender-based violence into HIV counselling and testing for adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania and South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuela Colombini ◽  
◽  
Fiona Scorgie ◽  
Anne Stangl ◽  
Sheila Harvey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Hiv Risk ◽  
Clinical Staff ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Hiv Counselling And Testing ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background Gender-based violence (GBV) undermines HIV prevention and treatment cascades, particularly among women who report partner violence. Screening for violence during HIV testing, and prior to offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to HIV uninfected women, provides an opportunity to identify those at heightened HIV risk and greater potential for non-adherence or early discontinuation of PrEP. The paper describes our experience with offering integrated GBV screening and referral as part of HIV counselling and testing. This component was implemented within EMPOWER, a demonstration project offering combination HIV prevention, including daily oral PrEP, to young women in South Africa and Tanzania. Methods Between February 2017 and March 2018, a process evaluation was conducted to explore views, experiences and practices of stakeholders (study participants and study clinical staff) during implementation of the GBV screening component. This article assesses the feasibility and acceptability of the approach from multiple stakeholder perspectives, drawing on counselling session observations (n = 10), in-depth interviews with participants aged 16–24 (n = 39) and clinical staff (n = 13), and notes from debriefings with counsellors. Study process data were also collected (e.g. number of women screened and referred). Following a thematic inductive approach, qualitative data were analysed using qualitative software (NVivo 11). Results Findings show that 31% of young women screened positive for GBV and only 10% requested referrals. Overall, study participants accessing PrEP were amenable to being asked about violence during HIV risk assessment, as this offered the opportunity to find emotional relief and seek help, although a few found this traumatic. In both sites, the sensitive and empathetic approach of the staff helped mitigate distress of GBV disclosure. In general, the delivery of GBV screening in HCT proved to be feasible, provided that the basic principles of confidentiality, staff empathy, and absence of judgment were observed. However, uptake of linkage to further care remained low in both sites. Conclusion Most stakeholders found GBV screening acceptable and feasible. Key principles that should be in place for young women to be asked safely about GBV during HIV counselling and testing included respect for confidentiality, a youth-friendly and non-judgmental environment, and a functioning referral network.

Constructing Gender: Old Wine in New Media(skins)

Pneuma ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 254-270
Author(s):  
Darnell L. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Gender Roles ◽  
New Media ◽  
Sexual Ethics ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Competing Responses

AbstractThe purpose of this essay is to assess how the preached word — at least the ways in which certain Christian teachings, doctrines, theologies, and moral ideologies are often framed for us through the preaching moment — has much to do with the ways in which gender roles are imagined, constructed, and lived out and even the ways in which gender-based violence and violation can be reinforced. By engaging the teachings of several prominent Pentecostal preachers as posted on YouTube, and the multiple/competing responses of the comments sections therein, I seek to demonstrated how new media tools can serve as catalysts for the production and/or reproduction of problematic understandings of gender roles, and how these mediums reinforce sexual ethics that ultimately result in human violation.

scholarly journals Gender-Based Violence as A Driver of HIV Infections Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kisumu, Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 665-678
Author(s):  
Anthony Wainaina Ndungu
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Violence Prevention ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Gender Based

Gender Based Violence is a universal catastrophe affecting global health, and thus development and is a major human rights concern. This study’s major objective was to establish what extent gender-based violence prevention influence performance of HIV prevention projects for young women and teenagers in Kisumu County. The study population constituted of teenage girls, and young women enrolled in HIV prevention projects implemented in Kisumu County for at least two years. Interviews were also conducted with key project implementers including project managers and monitoring and evaluation managers. Data collection for the study was done by utilizing data collection tools which included focused group discussion, structured questionnaires and an interview guide. 364 respondents were taken from 89,611 adolescents enrolled in HIV prevention projects using stratified random sampling technique. For descriptive data the study employed percentages, frequencies Arithmetic Mean as analytical tools of analysis. The Pearson’s value and Linear Regression were manipulated as statistical tools for inferential statistics. To test the hypotheses, the Fisher (F) test utilized. Descriptive statistics showed that gender-based violence prevention has a noteworthy effect on the production of HIV prevention projects for young women and adolescent girls in Kisumu County. The value of r2 was 0.452, indicating that gender-based violence prevention explained 45.2% of the change in the effectiveness of HIV prevention projects in Kisumu. The beta coefficient was 0.623, implying that gender-based violence had a noteworthy statistical impact on the performance of HIV prevention projects (β=0.623, t=10.928, p=0.000<0.05).

scholarly journals Young Women’s Preferences for Different Types of Sexual Relationships.  Implications for Gender-Based Violence Prevention Programs and Policies.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Ruiz-Eugenio ◽  
Sandra Racionero-Plaza ◽  
Elena Duque-Sanchez ◽  
Lidia Puigvert-Mallart
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Gender Violence ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Stable Relationship ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Gender Based

Abstract Background Gender-based violence among young women is a growing problem worldwide. The consequences of this victimization have been well reported in the scientific literature, among which negative health outcomes stand out. The factors influencing this problem are many; one highlighted by research is socialization into a dominant coercive discourse that associates sexual-affective attraction to males with violent attitudes and behaviors, while in turn, such discourse empties males with egalitarian behaviors from sexual attractiveness. This coercive discourse may be shaping the sexual preferences of female youth. The current paper explores young women’s preferences for different types of sexual relationships and, more particularly, for what type of sexual affective relationships they coercively preferred men with violent attitudes and behavior. Methods A quantitative, mixed-design vignette study was conducted with 191 college females in Spain. We focused the analysis only on responses about vignettes including narratives of men with violent attitudes and behaviors. In addition, we examined whether participants would report higher coerced preferences for violent men when asked about the coerced preferences of their female friends than when asked about their own preferences. Results Only 28.95% of participants responded that their female friends would prefer a young man with violent behavior for a stable relationship, meanwhile 58.42% would do it for hooking up. When reporting about themselves, the difference was greater: 28.42% would prefer a young man with violent behavior for hooking up and just 5.78% for a stable relationship. Conclusions The dominant coercive discourse that links attractiveness to people with violent attitudes and behaviors may be explaining the results obtained in this study. The findings can help eliminate the stereotype largely adopted by some intervention and prevention programs which assume that gender-based violence occurs mainly in stable relationships, considering that falling in love is the reason that lead women to suffer from violence. Our results can also support health professionals and others serving young women to enhance their identification of gender violence victimization, as well as our findings point to the need to include the evidence of gender violence in sporadic relationships in prevention programs and campaigns addressed to young women.

scholarly journals Women University Students’ Preferences for Different Types of Sexual Relationships. Implications for Gender-Based Violence Prevention Programs and Policies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Ruiz-Eugenio ◽  
Sandra Racionero-Plaza ◽  
Elena Duque-Sanchez ◽  
Lidia Puigvert-Mallart
Keyword(s):  
Young Women ◽  
Violent Behavior ◽  
Prevention Programs ◽  
Sexual Relationships ◽  
Gender Violence ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Stable Relationship ◽  
Attitudes And Behaviors ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Gender Based

Abstract Background: Gender-based violence among young women is a growing problem worldwide. The consequences of this victimization have been well reported in the scientific literature, among which negative health outcomes stand out. The factors influencing this problem are many; one highlighted by research is socialization into a dominant coercive discourse that associates sexual-affective attraction to males with violent attitudes and behaviors, while in turn, such discourse empties males with egalitarian behaviors from sexual attractiveness. This coercive discourse may be shaping the sexual preferences of female youth. The current paper explores young women’s preferences for different types of sexual relationships and, more particularly, for what type of sexual affective relationships they coercively preferred men with violent attitudes and behavior. Methods: A quantitative, mixed-design vignette study was conducted with 191 college females in Spain. We focused the analysis only on responses about vignettes including narratives of men with violent attitudes and behaviors. In addition, we examined whether participants would report higher coerced preferences for violent men when asked about the coerced preferences of their female friends than when asked about their own preferences.Results: Only 28.95% of participants responded that their female friends would prefer a young man with violent behavior for a stable relationship, meanwhile 58.42% would do it for hooking up. When reporting about themselves, the difference was greater: 28.42% would prefer a young man with violent behavior for hooking up and just 5.78% for a stable relationship. Conclusions: The dominant coercive discourse that links attractiveness to people with violent attitudes and behaviors may be explaining the results obtained in this study. The findings can help eliminate the stereotype largely adopted by some intervention and prevention programs which assume that gender-based violence occurs mainly in stable relationships, considering that falling in love is the reason that lead women to suffer from violence. Our results can also support health professionals and others serving young women to enhance their identification of gender violence victimization, as well as our findings point to the need to include the evidence of gender violence in sporadic relationships in prevention programs and campaigns addressed to young women.

Women's Legal Rights

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Bond
Keyword(s):  
Women's Rights ◽  
African Women ◽  
Legal Rights ◽  
Women’S Rights ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Legal Reforms ◽  
The Status ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Health Rights ◽  
Status Of Women

In the colonial and postcolonial period, African women have advocated for legal reforms that would improve the status of women across the continent. During the colonial period, European common and civil law systems greatly influenced African indigenous legal systems and further entrenched patriarchal aspects of the law. In the years since independence, women’s rights advocates have fought, with varying degrees of success, for women’s equality within the constitution, the family, the political arena, property rights, rights to inheritance, rights to be free from gender-based violence, rights to control their reproductive lives and health, rights to education, and many other aspects of life. Legal developments at the international, national, and local levels reflect the efforts of countless African women’s rights activists to improve the status of women within the region.

scholarly journals Prevalence and patterns of gender-based violence across adolescent girls and young women in Mombasa, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parinita Bhattacharjee ◽  
Huiting Ma ◽  
Helgar Musyoki ◽  
Eve Cheuk ◽  
Shajy Isac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Police Violence ◽  
Gender Based

Abstract Background We sought to estimate the prevalence and describe heterogeneity in experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) across subgroups of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods We used data from a cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey among 1299 AGYW aged 14–24 in Mombasa, Kenya in 2015. Respondents were recruited from hotspots associated with sex work, and self-selected into one of three subgroups: young women engaged in casual sex (YCS), young women engaged in transactional sex (YTS), and young women engaged in sex work (YSW). We compared overall and across subgroups: prevalence of lifetime and recent (within previous year) self-reported experience of physical, sexual, and police violence; patterns and perpetrators of first and most recent episode of physical and sexual violence; and factors associated with physical and sexual violence. Results The prevalences of lifetime and recent physical violence were 18.0 and 10.7% respectively. Lifetime and recent sexual violence respectively were reported by 20.5 and 9.8% of respondents. Prevalence of lifetime and recent experience of police violence were 34.7 and 25.8% respectively. All forms of violence were most frequently reported by YSW, followed by YTS and then YCS. 62%/81% of respondents reported having sex during the first episode of physical/sexual violence, and 48%/62% of those sex acts at first episode of physical/sexual violence were condomless. In the most recent episode of violence when sex took place levels of condom use remained low at 53–61%. The main perpetrators of violence were intimate partners for YCS, and both intimate partners and regular non-client partners for YTS. For YSW, first-time and regular paying clients were the main perpetrators of physical and sexual violence. Alcohol use, ever being pregnant and regular source of income were associated with physical and sexual violence though it differed by subgroup and type of violence. Conclusions AGYW in these settings experience high vulnerability to physical, sexual and police violence. However, AGYW are not a homogeneous group, and there are heterogeneities in prevalence and predictors of violence between subgroups of AGYW that need to be understood to design effective programmes to address violence.

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