MA IDS Thesis Projects
Title
None Will Be Free Until All Are Free: Engaging Grassroots Organizations to Work Towards Ending Corrective Rape in South Africa
Date of Award
1-1-2015
Document Type
Restricted Access Thesis
College
College of Theology, Arts, & Sciences
Department
International Development and Service
Degree Name
International Development and Service, MA
First Supervisor
Dr. Teri Murphy
Abstract
South Africa has the highest rate of sexual violence out of all countries worldwide not at war. Situated within this landscape of gender-‐based violence and rape, lesbian and gender nonconforming women—particularly those living in rural townships—are being increasingly targeted in what has widely become known as the crime of corrective rape, in which they are singled out by perpetrators with the specific intent to punish or correct their sexual orientation. Often these crimes result in death and perpetrators generally go unpunished. This project is intended to provide grassroots organizations working in South Africa with a better working knowledge of corrective rape, what drives it and how individuals can help work against it, as well as strategies for working directly with survivors of these crimes and personal self care for service providers. By increasing awareness on behalf of service providers at a grassroots level, a discussion of the taboo subject of sexual assault can continue to gain momentum and contribute to an improved environment of support services for survivors.