TITLE:
Conceptualizing Sexual Violence in Society, Socially Acceptable Coercion and Controversies: Case-Study of Epworth and Dema Districts, Zimbabwe
AUTHORS:
Robson Tsikai, Sunungurai Dominic Chingarande, Lilian Chaminuka
KEYWORDS:
Sexual Violence, Patriarchy, Coercion, Consent, Sex
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.11 No.10,
October
31,
2023
ABSTRACT: 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.