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Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613956952031232 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Phillips, Jessica Taberer |
| author2 | Gouws, Amanda |
| author_browse | Gouws, Amanda Phillips, Jessica Taberer |
| author_facet | Gouws, Amanda Phillips, Jessica Taberer |
| author_sort | Phillips, Jessica Taberer |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134771 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:23.606Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134771 Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women Phillips, Jessica Taberer Gouws, Amanda Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. Obstetrics -- Social aspects -- South Africa African-American women -- Medical care Reproductive health -- Social aspects -- South Africa Discrimination in medical care -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Phillips, J. T. 2025. Violations of Dignity: Obstetric and Reproductive Violence against Black South African Women. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/902c2830-ea4b-4077-921b-230ae15999a0 ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Throughout the periods of empire in South Africa [slavery, colonialism and apartheid] Black South African women were not able to access basic services corresponding with their human rights, such as dignity. Consequently, the ramifications of the country’s past coupled with the effects of intersectional discrimination created an environment in which Black South African women disproportionately bear the brunt of reproductive injustices. The democratic transition of South Africa was intended to see the realization of equality for all, with laws entrenched in human rights, however this has not been the case. Obstetric and reproductive violence act as a case in point and highlighting not only the way the past can impact the present but also how the public healthcare system in South Africa is failing the people it sets out to serve. Thus, the ways in which obstetric and reproductive violence violates the dignity of Black South African women needs to be analysed in an effort to draw attention to the violence that has persisted into the democratic era. Reproductive justice was used as a theoretical framework to guide this study’s analysis. It follows an intersectional approach to reproductive injustices, oppressions and freedoms, emphasizing how marginalized women’s social-material conditions affect the ability of autonomous reproduction decision making. Special focus is placed on human rights and social justice making reproductive justice radical in its scope and applicability. This study followed qualitative methodology and used a case study design. Primary data was collected through 5 semi-structured online interviews with experts in the field of obstetric and reproductive violence and secondary data was obtained through literature in articles, books, reports and investigative studies. Additionally, the South African Constitution along with regional and international human rights frameworks were consulted in an effort to understand how obstetric and reproductive violence, violates the dignity of Black South African women. The findings reveal that obstetric violence is a kind of gender-based violence that disproportionally affects Black South African women through multiple intersecting modes of discrimination (linked to the matrix of domination) embedded in patriarchal healthcare. The environments in which obstetric violence was found to occur – in this case South African public healthcare facilities – mirror the wider societal narrative that devalues Black South African women, positioning them at the bottom of the socio-political hierarchy. It was found that this kind of violence was at times justified through framing these women as “problematic others.” Furthermore, it was found through analyzing obstetric and reproductive violence and the way it is manifested through psychological or physical acts, that South Africa is failing to fulfil both its constitutional and legal obligations, as the dignity of Black South African women is being violated through obstetric violence, no matter the way it is manifested. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar nie. Masters 2026-01-07T09:32:40Z 2026-01-07T09:32:40Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134771 Stellenbosch University 187 pages application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Obstetrics -- Social aspects -- South Africa African-American women -- Medical care Reproductive health -- Social aspects -- South Africa Discrimination in medical care -- South Africa UCTD Phillips, Jessica Taberer Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women |
| title | Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women |
| title_full | Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women |
| title_fullStr | Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women |
| title_full_unstemmed | Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women |
| title_short | Violations of dignity: obstetric and reproductive violence against Black South African women |
| title_sort | violations of dignity obstetric and reproductive violence against black south african women |
| topic | Obstetrics -- Social aspects -- South Africa African-American women -- Medical care Reproductive health -- Social aspects -- South Africa Discrimination in medical care -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134771 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT phillipsjessicataberer violationsofdignityobstetricandreproductiveviolenceagainstblacksouthafricanwomen |