Author(s)

Robson Tsikai, Sunungurai Dominic Chingarande, Lilian Chaminuka

Department of Cancelling, Zimbabwe Open University, Harare, Zimbabwe.

It is not controversial to say that sexual violence is a serious problem that merits efforts to prevent it. Dig deeper into the meanings of the statement, however, and controversy abounds. Anyone involved in studying or preventing sexual violence needs to make decisions that are likely to be controversial—decisions that reflect values and implicit or explicit theories about power, violence sexuality, and gender. In this paper, the researcher discusses controversies about defining sexual violence, discusses dilemmas surrounding where to focus research and preventing efforts on victims, perpetrator, or society; and discusses the issues involved in acknowledging that sexual violence does not have uniformly severe consequences. The researcher primarily addresses rape, but also draws examples from the literature on child sexual violence. Sexual violence is a cause for concern the world over as it has emerged as a serious global health, human rights and development issue. It is a symptom of underlying gender in equalities and power imbalances which knows no boarders it transcends the boundaries of geography, race, culture class and religion, hence affecting every community in the corner of the globe and Zimbabwe in particular. Several strategies have been employed by the Government of Zimbabwe and various pressure groups and lobby organizations to curb gender sexual violence through establishment of a legal framework and interventions on prevention, treatment and participation, however, sexual violence remains pervasive. This paper looks at conceptualization of sexual violence in Zimbabwe.

Sexual Violence, Patriarchy, Coercion, Consent, Sex

Tsikai, R. , Chingarande, S. and Chaminuka, L. (2023) Conceptualizing Sexual Violence in Society, Socially Acceptable Coercion and Controversies: Case-Study of Epworth and Dema Districts, Zimbabwe. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 11, 605-621. doi: 10.4236/jss.2023.1110034.