Beyond revictimisation of women: Engaging the male perpetrators’ voice in rethinking intimate partner violence in South Africa
| dc.contributor.author | Motseki, Mpho Cynthia | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-12-12T07:26:04Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-12-12T07:26:04Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description.abstract | World Health Organization (WHO) defines intimate partner violence as violence by a person against a former or current partner, and includes verbal abuse, emotional abuse, financial abuse, controlling behaviours and sexual abuse (WHO, 2021). IPV victimisation is much more common among women in South Africa than among men. In addition to being a human rights violation, IPV is a global public health issue. This study examined the causes of IPV from the incarcerated male perpetrators’ viewpoints, explored the correctional centres’ rehabilitation programs from the perspectives of the male perpetrators and provided possible mitigation strategies. Intersectional, standpoint, and social construction theories underpinned the theoretical framing of the study, suggesting that marginalised people’s realities are shaped within their social locations, and that incarcerated male IPV perpetrators’ lived experiences should be examined through an awareness of their intersectional identities. To obtain a deeper understanding of the participants' lived experiences, the study employed a feminist qualitative approach. The data was analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. I conducted in-depth interviews with 20 incarcerated men who had perpetrated IPV in heterosexual relationships. The findings indicate that alcohol abuse is a conspicuous marker that leads to abuse in intimate relationships. Additionally, the study notes that jealousy, anger, and infidelity are driving forces of IPV, which is also fuelled by the lack of a father figure as a role model and experiencing childhood abuse. Perpetrators acknowledge that violence against women is wrong and want to stop it. However, they reject the notion of gender equality, as it threatens their standing as males. They pointed to a need for anger management programmes to be accessible in communities, as it seems most men need them. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10566/21582 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | University of the Western Cape | |
| dc.subject | Intimate Partner Violence | |
| dc.subject | Male Perpetrators | |
| dc.subject | Incarceration | |
| dc.subject | Marginal Voices | |
| dc.subject | South Africa | |
| dc.title | Beyond revictimisation of women: Engaging the male perpetrators’ voice in rethinking intimate partner violence in South Africa | |
| dc.type | Thesis |