The way women dress is routinely cited as an incitement to rape. References to sheer and clinging fabrics, low-slung jeans and low-cut tops, bare midriffs, short skirts and liberally applied make-up are found to be all too common in the context of rape.
Breaking this cultural misnomer, three dummies dressed in clothes worn by rape victims were the talking point at a special commemorative event in observance of Women’s Month, hosted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal National Prosecuting Authority Office in Durban on Tuesday, 1 August.
The event aimed to create awareness on the diverse and complex challenges in relation to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). It highlights the plight and vulnerability of all women in South Africa, given the influence of sociocultural patriarchy and GBVF stereotypes, especially how a women’s dress is perceived as a “reason” for GBVF.
The keynote speaker at the event was KZN Social Development MEC, Nonhlanhla Khoza, who paid homage to anti-apartheid activist, Victoria Mxenge, who refused to remain silent when her husband, Griffiths Mxenge, was killed by the apartheid government.
Victoria Mxenge was attacked and murdered by four men in the driveway of her home in uMlazi in front of her children on 1 August 1985. Mxenge’s death sparked massive protests and clashes with police. Later, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) documents showed that an apartheid assassin confessed to killing Mxenge.
“Mama Victoria fought for freedom, but today, we are faced with the reality of gender-based violence, whereby the freedom our forebears fought for, we cannot call it freedom today, if our women, our girls, are not free. We can only say we are free once we can walk freely at night and no one judges you on what you are wearing, because today they blame us as women. They say it is because you invited it.”
MEC Khoza also encouraged women to speak out about crimes against woman.
“Women are powerful tools who can make an impact in our communities. As communities, we need to stand up. If we see a perpetrator doing something bad and we do nothing, then you are a perpetrator as well. Let us just do something. Let us protect our children; our girl children. Let us love our girl children and believe them when they say something bad is happening around our household because GBV starts with us; it starts within our families. So let us protect our children and learn to believe them.”
Advocate Omashani Naidoo, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions in the National Prosecuting Authority’s Sexual Offences Unit, presented a femicide case review based on clothes women wear.
“Last year, I was at the United Nations and in the foyer, there was a display of clothes that women had worn when they were raped. It was quite emotional to listen to testimonies from survivors. The fact that I wore a short skirt, does it give men the right to rape me? The fact that I wore a sari? A suit? The answer is no.
“Victim blaming never stops. We go to police stations, we go to hospitals and we are asked: ‘What were you wearing?’ I was wearing a sari. Something that I wear at home, with my family. Something that I am comfortable in. My everyday wear. These women did not ask to be raped. They are asked: ‘What did you have to drink? Did you smile? Did you invite it?’ Over and over again, you hear that you would not have been raped if you did not wear a short dress of if you did not smile. We need to break these stereotypes,” explained Adv Naidoo.
Encouraging the captivated audience in her presentation, Adv Naidoo said: “We need to work together to eradicate GBV in South Africa and the world. Clothing can never be an invitation to sexual abuse. Rape is a culture. In our communities, we need to change mindsets. We need to talk and break down the barriers created. We can change the narrative of GBV in our society.”
