Rape as rooted in patriarchy: a philosophical perspective on rape in South Africa.
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Date
2022
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Abstract
The main purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between rape and patriarchy in
the context of South Africa. Primarily, the paper argues that rape can be construed as a tool
used to perpetuate patriarchal control. South Africa is recognised as a democratic state with a
well-functioning judicial system; despite such a strong system, the prevalence of rape and
gender-based violence suggests otherwise. In post-apartheid South Africa, women still grapple
with serious security fears; they must think carefully about where they are going, with whom,
at what time, and whether their garments have a potential to “provoke” a man. The primary
question, ‘Why does rape persist in our society?’, is what this paper seeks to address by
contending that it survives to keep patriarchy intact. The paper argues that patriarchy is
connected to other systems of oppression, and sexualised violence is a deliberate tool they use
to assert dominance over the subordinate groups. The argument that rape is a tool for patriarchy
(the number of men raping women is overwhelmingly higher than that of women raping men;
Stellings 1993) finds antecedents in the fact that rape and gender-based violence are systemic
tools used to assert dominance or as a tool for control.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.