South Africa Rape Study: 1 In 4 Men Admit Rape

One in four men in South Africa admitted to raping someone and many confessed to attacking multiple victims, according to a new study conducted by the Medical Research Council and reported by the Mail and Guardian.

Of those surveyed, 28% said they had raped a woman or girl, and 3% said they had raped a man or boy. Almost half who said they had carried out a rape admitted they had done so more than once, with 73% saying they had carried out their first assault before the age of 20.

The study, which had British funding, also found that men who are physically violent towards women are twice as likely to be HIV-positive. They are also more likely to pay for sex and to not use condoms.

The study also found that gang rape is common in South Africa because it is considered a form of male bonding, reports the BBC.

The Mail and Guardian also reports that the South African government has faced stiff criticism for its nation's high level of rape. Only a fraction of rapes are reported, and only about 7 percent of those reported lead to a conviction.

"The absolute imperative is we have to change the underlying social attitudes that in a way have created a norm that coercing women into sex is on some level acceptable," Professor Rachel Jewkes of the MRC told the BBC.

Comments

[Number1]

12:10 PM on 07/18/2009

You could say, that of the 7 questions, only 1 explicitly deals with stranger rape (question 5), with questions 1 and 2 dealing with intoxication, 3 and 4 dealing with acquaintance rape, and 6 and 7 being so general that they could refer to the previous questions on acquaintance rape. Also 1 and 2 and 6 and 7 are essentially the same question first asked in the singular and then in the plural, so an affirmative question on the latter would include and affirmative question on the former. Unfortunately, a breakdown of the results is not included in this report.

[Number1]

11:54 AM on 07/18/2009

Ok, the questionnaire is in - after the SVRI Forum ended, preventing discussion of the survey before the conference.

Understanding men’s health and Use of violence: interface of rape and hiv in soUth africa
Source: http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/interfaceofrape&hivsarpt.pdf

1) How many times have you slept with a woman or girl when she was too drunk to say
whether she wanted it or not?

2) How many times have you and other men had sex with a woman at the same time when
she was too drunk to stop you?

3) Did you ever force a girlfriend or your wife into having sex with you?

4) Was ever there a time when you forced an ex-girlfriend or ex-wife into having sex?

5) Did you ever force a woman who was NOT your wife or girlfriend at the time to have sex with you?

6) How many times have you slept with a woman or girl when she didn’t consent to sex or after you forced her?

7) How many times have you and other men had sex with a woman at the same time when
she didn’t consent to sex or you forced her?

[cyntay]

05:22 AM on 06/20/2009

As a South African woman, I have to comment here, Although some say the sampling of the study is small. it is representative of a portion of the male population. If you consider that out of 1000 1 in 4 admitted some form of violent sexual act towards women then that's 1 in 4 too many!! regardless of the size of the sampling. RAPE SHOULD NEVER BE ACCEPTABLE. Violent acts against anybody should never be acceptable. Many of the rapist claim that women ask for it. Does a child who is innocent ask for it when it's is raped. of course not!! Yes, this country has a shameful past of many children raped, and will continue unless the people are educated. There is a belief among men that if they have sex with a virgin then they will be cured of AIDS! Where does this come from? It certainly does not just come into their heads, they are being told to commit these acts against women and female children even young babies. It's horrific, totally unacceptable. But cannot be changed overnight. Therefore it's crucial that the people are educated, are taught respect for women and also women have to empower themselves to earn and demand that respect.

Rape is not only an African thing. It's practiced all over the world. Therefore it is a world problem that needs to be addressed.

[TrnsNtnl]

02:24 PM on 06/19/2009

South Africa has identified this as an underlying cultural issue sure but thats as far as they went. Could it be linked to the cultural repression of black people, the class warfare still going on, lack of education, social programs, health services. Destruction of liniage and the passing on of family culture. These things all form a nexus for human moral dissaster because who wouldnt be demoralised by such a situation. I can only hope the men and women of south africa come together to challenge their self anointed keepers and get on their level at least demanding the quality of life expected of such a modern economy, country and culture.

[EqualMeansEqual]

03:09 PM on 06/19/2009

Blaming whites for blacks raping blacks?? Sexist cultures have existed in africa for a long long, time. Tribal cultures typically oppress women, and tribal cultures have always existed on AFrica, way before whites showed up. Sorry if you think its OK for black men to dehumanize black women and make excuses for them. The only one to blame is the rapist.

[NoSillyName]

12:31 PM on 06/19/2009

Gang rape "a form of male bonding" (!) or, for them, acceptable, misdirected homosexuality? Showing off their prowess, going where the others have been (yuck) and getting excited watching other males "performing" .

Repulsive and vile no matter the "reason".

[Whitley2009]

07:52 AM on 06/19/2009

Remember the recent African case where a man raped a tribal woman? The local Sharia Court of tribal seniors held that the woman had exposed her hair or face in the wrong manner; and, since this is supposed to excite the man, she was the "enticer." So, to punish her, all of the men in the village were allowed to rape her SISTER as the rape victim's punishment. The man was declared a victim of womanly wiles and sexual enticement.

From the time these men are little boys, they are taught that women are unclean, menstruating women are unclean, women who have just given child birth are unclean, etc. The men, of course, are perfect in every way.

So much for African justice, Sharia law, Islam, the woman legally being one-half a man, and that entire culture of sexist hatred of women.

[TrnsNtnl]

02:18 PM on 06/19/2009

Islam is as much about women hating as the king james bible.

[sunpeaks]

03:00 AM on 06/19/2009

agreed medic628 - the world will change for the better when women embrace their power and this kind of oppression and abuse becomes globally unacceptable. Imagine one day - an entire generation of children that grow up never having to experience abuse or witness abuse of their mother?

There is an important role for strong, evolved men to take a stance on this and help intervene, stop or prevent this day to day - wherever you can.

[Number1]

10:57 PM on 06/18/2009

continued..

3) Underreporting

From the article: Mbeki and Smith both got it wrong, by Lisa Vetten

" If we want to know the 'real' number of rapes (both reported and unreported)
then we must turn to crime victimisation surveys - and not police
statistics. Two such surveys have been completed, one by StatsSA and the
other by the Medical Research Council (MRC). StatsSA found that one in two
rape survivors reported being raped to the police while the MRC found that
just one in nine women reported their victimisation. "
http://www.csvr.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=29

Conclusion

1) Rough number of rapes: 45,000
2) Underreporting: x2 (StatsSA) to x9 (MRC)
3) Total estimated number of rapes in South Africa: 90,000 (StatsSA) to 405,000 (MRC)
4) Total Population: 48,500,000

The original article included a dig at South African president Jacob Zuma, who many establishment types fear may actually make good on land reform and turn back the apartheid era land theft that crammed 90% of the population onto 13% of the land. This very much feels like a hatchet job on Jacob Zuma. Certainly, the tiny survey (how many palm pilots did they have again? And what was the actual sample size?) does not justify the sweeping 'attention grabbing' headlines this article is being pushed with.

Pumping up these statistics and claiming it is 'African culture' is to blame is as racist and crude as anything one would expect coming out of apartheid South Africa.

[EqualMeansEqual]

02:47 PM on 06/19/2009

You are a apologist for sexism. Playing the race card does not help African women in any way shape or form.

But i am sure if white men where doing this to black women in Africa 2009 you would show concern.

[Number1]

10:38 AM on 06/20/2009

So when black people call on white people to stick to the evidence when they scream that a quarter of black men are rapists, they are 'playing the race card'? Why would I give any South African a second of the benefit of the doubt, considering that you grew up in a system that celebrated and enforced white supremacy?

[GrahamInCanada]

10:41 PM on 06/18/2009

Here is the executive summary of the report:

http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/men_exec_smry.pdf

Taken from the research site:

http://www.mrc.ac.za/gender/projects.htm.

What is interesting about both is the questions asked are not available. However, reading the executive summary, it is clear that 25% of men did not answer "Yes, I raped somebody".

What is clear is that leading questions were asked and depending on the answer, 25% of men were classified as having sex without honest, fully informed, sober consent of the partner in a non heirachal relationship with no dependencies between partners.

You know, the college professor had sex with the student.

You know, last night we got drunk and we had sex.

You know, I'll give you a bonus for a b.j.

And not just, did you rape?

This type of study indeed has relevance to the study of AIDS transmission, which is what this study is about. But the study erred in its sensationalistic phrasing that 25% of men admitted to rape, when clearly they did not.

[EqualMeansEqual]

02:48 PM on 06/19/2009

Yo don;t know the definition of rape. Man places having sex with a women that is intoxicated and thus unable to consent is rape.

[GrahamInCanada]

10:37 PM on 06/19/2009

It may be that a person having sex with a person that is intoxicated and thus unable to consent is rape.

That does not encompass the whole of rape, and when asked a question, "have you raped someone" most people will not think they are being asked if they have had sex with someone who was drunk.

When asked whether one has had sex with someone who was drunk, persons who answer yes might feel it is a little over the top to report that they admitted they raped somebody.

However, the data is useful in HIV transmission research. This report however seems to give up all pretense at scientific reserve by sensationalizing the report. I hope such sensationalistic and less accurate language, at the cost of scientific reputation, accomplished whatever they thought it might accomplish.

[Number1]

02:41 PM on 07/17/2009

GrahamInCanada, I think you are the one who is completely correct. I e-mailed Rachel Jewkes, and onJune 27th she replied: "We reported findings of our study where men responded to 7 questions FRAMED in various ways around whenter they had ever "forced a woman or girl against her will". I am not claiming this to be rape. South African law very clearly states that if you forced someone into sex against their will it is rape (it doesn't) - I suspect Dutch law doesn't allow for another definition of this either. I recognise that men in the survey may not see themselves as having "raped" but if any woman had reported to the police these events the men could face 15 years in prison. The full report of the study will be available on the MRC website on the 9th of July. Rachel Jewkes. "

As far as I can tell, the details of the study have not been made public, and this is July 17th.

[BDinJoburg]

08:59 PM on 06/18/2009

Part 2
The most contentious assertion of the study never got to HuffPo. From the original M&G article.

"I think it is down to ideas about masculinity based on gender hierarchy and the sexual entitlement of men. It's rooted in an African ideal of manhood".

I absolutely endorse the first sentence.

I don't see how the "African ideal of manhood" can be seriously regarded.

1) There is an assumption of homogeneous African culture. We have 11 official languages in South Africa - does this suggest a single uniform shared cultural history?

2) There is a broader issue of patriarchial societies tolerating the abuse of women. This is certainly not uniquely an "African" problem (smell the people who in private prefer the n-word or the k-word).

3) There are and have been powerful women in South African society, from (Queen) Mujaji to Albertina Sisulu to Winnie Mandela, Helen Suzman and Helen Zille.

Our current parliament has 45% women representatives.

The ANC Women's League supported Jacob Zuma.

This suggests a combination of class and gender issues.

I hope that I have been clear that there is no defense for rape. Ever!

Whilst law enforcement is the primary area we should focus on for the immediate protection of our mothers, sisters, daughters and lovers it seems clear to me that there are societal issues that also need to be addressed. Lazy thinking about "African ideals" is not helpful.

Please consider contacting POWA to help.

http://www.powa.co.za/
[phone]

[DailyElitist]

08:51 PM on 06/18/2009

"The study, which had British funding"

Given the history of British-run genocide in Africa, and considering the racism which still permeates through the upper echelons of the British elite, that statement should tell you all you need to know about the validity of this "study" (e.g., none).

[nailinpalinnow]

11:21 PM on 06/18/2009

Your reasoning is beyond flawed. What is your point, that this study is part of a hidden agenda of the uppercrust Brits to kill African blacks a la the 18th century?

[Number1]

11:28 PM on 06/18/2009

Exactly how many palm pilots were involved in this 'study'?

[BDinJoburg]

08:42 PM on 06/18/2009

Part 1
I am a South African man.

The most important point I can make is that I share the revulsion that South African women are at such high risk of being raped - it does not matter whether or not the methodology of the study is flawed - the situation is unacceptable.

I am ashamed that the attitudes of many men in our society enable abuse. I cannot offer an apology on behalf of those men but I can say that misogynists - together with all bigots - are unacceptable in my social circle.

In trying to analyze or understand this situation to correct it many social issues IMO contribute.

1) Migrant labour policies took fathers en masse away from families. In many communities this left a missing generation of male role models.

2) The armed struggle introduced a greater acceptance of violence and desensitized/dehumanized our sense of empathy and compassion.

3) "Bantu Education" produced many "angry young men" without any sense of a path to economic or social equity. Knowing that rape is primarily an issue of power I suspect this probably comes into play.

[Misty Jolly Aoudia]

12:20 AM on 06/19/2009

I agree. Lack of positive role models, forced suppression, years of oppression, and the tolerance of violence creates a power keg of angry men.

[Number1]

09:13 PM on 06/19/2009

" I agree. Lack of positive role models, forced suppression, years of oppression, and the tolerance of violence creates a power keg of angry men. "

That is not necessarily untrue, but that does not make these statistics true. All evidence is that the claims made by Rachel Jewkes do not add up to reported rapes (about 50,000 per year) and the actual rate of underreporting (1 out of 2 or 1 out of 9). South Africa has a population of 48 million people.

[Pavane]

12:38 PM on 06/19/2009

BD, I found your post enlightening. Thank you.

[TheBlackCat]

02:51 PM on 06/19/2009

agreed

[Georgiapundit]

05:53 PM on 06/18/2009

For all the self righteousness on this thread:

"The United States has the highest rate of rape of any country that publishes such statistics; 13 times higher than Great Britain and 20 times higher than Japan."

Apparently, among these statistics, there is a sizable attraction of American rapist for minors.
"61% of rape victims were sexually assaulted before the age of 18." Not counting those victims who have not come forward.

http://www.sccadvasa.org/articles/63.pdf

[EqualMeansEqual]

11:38 PM on 06/18/2009

Children and women are opressed and raped in AFrica on a level not in other countries. It is #1. PERIOD. Many ethinic conflicts involve gang rapes.(COngo, Rowanda, etc) Myths about curing AIDS by raping virgins is actually believed by some in AFrica. SOme even think that raping lesbians makes them straight. This is not occuring in the US and the women of africa should not be ignored because politically PC standards are offended in some.

Women in Africa are oppressed at a much , much , much higher level than the US. FACT. I suggest you inform yourself on the state of women under male oppression in Africa.

[DCX2]

01:28 PM on 06/19/2009

I wonder how the inside of a prison compares to Africa.

America is not the saintly place you seem to think it is. Horror happens everywhere; no one place has a monopoly on psychos.

[Number1]

09:07 PM on 06/19/2009

" Children and women are opressed and raped in AFrica on a level not in other countries. It is #1. PERIOD "

Africa is not a country, and I apologize if that was just a slip of the tongue. I do not apologize for stating that you seem to be suffering from some kind of racist obsession with African people committing rape. Look at the statistics (the real, relevant surveys) and they do not bear that out. In fact, if anything Africa is extremely culturally conservative and is often criticized for being so.

[TheBlackCat]

03:59 PM on 06/19/2009

Why do you consider caring about other people self righteous?

Yes bad things happen in my own country. That doesn't make it wrong for me to be sympathetic for people who also have problems in THEIR countrie. That doesn't make it wrong for me to want women to have more rights and freedoms EVERYWHERE.

I find it sad that you confuse empathy with sanctimony.

[peterg76]

05:31 PM on 06/18/2009

What's their definition of rape? Not to diminish the seriousness of rape, but there have been surveys that have done more harm than good by using ridiculously broad interpretations.

[Number1]

11:00 PM on 06/24/2009

" What's their definition of rape? Not to diminish the seriousness of rape, but there have been surveys that have done more harm than good by using ridiculously broad interpretations. "

Exactly. I think they still have not stated how they define rape or what their questions were.

[Number1]

03:05 PM on 06/28/2009

" there have been surveys that have done more harm than good by using ridiculously broad interpretations. "

And that is exactly what seems to have happened. From e-mail correspondence with dr. Jewkes:

" We reported findings of our study where men responded to 7 questions framed in various ways around whether they had ever "forced a woman or girl against her will". "

Until we have the questions at our disposal, it sounds like they were tricked and were never actually asked whether they had raped anyone in the people's understanding of the word.

" I recognise that men in the survey may not see themselves as having "raped' "

Red flag. They were tricked into admitting to 'a crime', on an anonymous survey. Is that ethical? How would you not know if you'd raped someone? And how would you subsequently confess to that? Only if there is a very broad definition of rape, so broad as to be unrecognizable to you, I would say (before having seen the questionnaire), and even then it would be an inadvertent admission, not a confession. Also, this is very much at odds with the much more blatant statement that 'One in four men in South Africa admitted to raping someone' (see article above).

[MED1025]

05:07 PM on 06/18/2009

Only when it hurts men -either through the justice system (unlikely) or economically will this stop. Multinational corporations may hesitate to settle there if foreign nationals and their families are exposed to this danger.

[Number1]

03:10 PM on 06/28/2009

" Multinational corporations may hesitate to settle there if foreign nationals and their families are exposed to this danger. "

It never stopped them before. Central government is absent from much of the Eastern DRC, but you can always get a bottle of Coke.

And I am not a fan of multinational corporations setting up in Africa anyway - too much money attracts too much power away from the people and their democratic wishes. Africa should expand it's own parastatals, develop it's own internal markets, and reinvest all profits to develop it's own economy, for the befit of it's own population, not to pad corporate accounts in London, Sydney, New York and Toronto, which is what is happening now.