A legal analysis of the prevalence of domestic violence against women by their intimate partners in underprivileged areas in South Africa
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Date
2024
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University of the Western Cape
Abstract
The aim of this research paper is to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence in underprivileged areas, where spatial location and patriarchy are at the center of the problem. Underprivilege for the purposes of the study refers to areas where poverty, unemployment and poor service delivery are rife. These factors often go hand in hand with enduring inequality between men and women. The public private divide has been criticized by feminist theorists over many years. One of the results of this divide is that domestic violence has been regarded as a private matter and a matter to be dealt with in the private sphere. The private sphere is often a space where women experience patriarchy and domination with little recourse to the law and this is worse for women who find themselves in areas of impoverishment and inequality. In terms of Section 2 of the Domestic Violence Amended Act 14 of 2021, domestic violence is defined as physical abuse; sexual abuse; emotional, verbal and or psychological abuse; economic abuse; intimidation; harassment; sexual harassment; related person abuse; stalking; spiritual abuse; damage to property; elder abuse; coercive behaviour; controlling behaviour; expose a child to domestic violence; entry into the complainant’s – permanent or temporary residence, workplace or place of study without his or her consent or any other controlling or abuse behaviour of intimidation , threatening, abusive degrading, offensive or humiliating nature towards a complainant.Statistics shows that over 50% of women will experience gender-based violence in their life time either at work place or at home.The aim of this paper is to consider the intersection between spatial location,specifically underprivileged areas where there is inequality and impoverishment, and patriarchy as contributing to women’s plight.
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Keywords
Domestic Violence, Spatiality, Place, Intimate partner(s), Women’s rights