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The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study

Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.

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Main Author: Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
Other Authors: Green, Sulina
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2009
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access_status_str Open Access
author Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
author2 Green, Sulina
author_browse Green, Sulina
Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
author_facet Green, Sulina
Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
author_sort Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1491
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:47:16.314Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2009
publishDateRange 2009
publishDateSort 2009
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1491 The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer Green, Sulina University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work. Violent partner relationships Dissertations -- Social work Theses -- Social work Abused women -- South Africa Women, Black -- Abuse of -- South Africa Women -- Violence against -- South Africa Family violence -- South Africa Thesis (DPhil (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is an exploratory study on the perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships. The study was conducted in two phases at Ilitha Community Psychological Centre at Ezibeleni Township near Queenstown. Since this is a qualitative exploratory study, in-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of twenty women. In addition a focus group interview was also conducted with five women from the same site in order to gain a better insight into the phenomenon of violence in partner relationships. A literature review that focused on the existing literature concerning African women in violent partner relationships was conducted. African women’s perspectives on the experiences of abuse were explored, a gender perspective based on radical feminist views was discussed and ethnicsensitive empowerment needs and the role of the social service practitioners were investigated. The findings suggest that many African women experience violence in partner relationships. They sustain physical, emotional and economic abuse. A patriarchal system, alcohol abuse, infidelity and failure to support the children financially have been cited as some of the reasons for abuse. Formal and informal social networks assisted these women to some extent. However, there is need for an ethnic-sensitive interdisciplinary training approach and a legal system that is accessible to rural women to prevent further battery. Various recommendations have been postulated. The study indicated a need for ethnic-sensitive empowerment programmes for the abused women, rehabilitative programmes for these women and for the abusers, and an effective legal system to curb violence in partner relationships. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie, wat verkennend van aard is, handel oor die persepsies en ervaringe van Afrikavroue wat binne gewelddadige saamwoonverhoudings verkeer. Die studie is in twee fases by die Ilitha Community Psychological Centre en die Ezibeleniwoonbuurt naby Queenstown onderneem. Aangesien dit ’n kwalitatief-verkennende studie is, is diepgaande onderhoude met ’n eksperimentele groep van twintig vroue gevoer. Hierbenewens is fokusgroeponderhoude ook met vyf vroue van dieselfde buurt gevoer ten einde beter insig te verkry van die fenomeen van geweld binne saamwoonverhoudings. ’n Studie van relevante literatuur wat op bestaande literatuur ten opsigte van Afrika-vroue in gewelddadige saamwoonverhoudings betrekking het, is onderneem. Die perspektiewe van Afrika-vroue oor die wyse waarop hulle mishandeling ervaar, is verken. ’n Geslagsgebaseerde perspektief gebaseer op feministiese beskouinge is onderling bespreek en die behoefte aan etniessensitiewe bemagtigingsbehoeftes asook die rol van sosiale diensleweringspraktisyns het aandag geniet. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat ‘n groot aantal Afrika-vroue geweld binne saamwoonverhoudings ervaar. Hulle ondervind fisieke, emosionele en ekonomiese mishandeling. ’n Patriargale stelsel, alkoholmisbruik, ontrouheid, en gebrek aan geldelike versorging van die kinders binne die gesin, is genoem as sommige van die redes vir die mishandeling. Formele en informele netwerke het hierdie vroue in ’n sekere mate bygestaan. Daar bestaan egter ’n behoefte aan ’n etnies-sensitiewe interdissiplinêre opleidingsbenadering asook ’n regstelsel wat toeganklik is vir landelike vroue om verdere mishandeling te voorkom. Verskeie aanbevelings is gepostuleer. Die studie het aangetoon dat daar ’n behoefte bestaan aan etnies-sensitiewe bemagtigingsprogramme vir mishandelde vroue, rehabilitasieprogramme vir sodanige vroue asook vir diegene wat hulle mishandel, en ’n effektiewe regstelsel om geweld binne saamwoonverhoudings aan bande te lê. Doctoral 2009-11-25T14:16:50Z 2010-06-01T08:22:59Z 2009-11-25T14:16:50Z 2010-06-01T08:22:59Z 2009-12 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1491 en University of Stellenbosch application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Violent partner relationships
Dissertations -- Social work
Theses -- Social work
Abused women -- South Africa
Women, Black -- Abuse of -- South Africa
Women -- Violence against -- South Africa
Family violence -- South Africa
Mesatywa, Nontando Jennifer
The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study
title The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study
title_full The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study
title_fullStr The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study
title_full_unstemmed The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study
title_short The perceptions and experiences of African women in violent partner relationships : an exploratory study
title_sort perceptions and experiences of african women in violent partner relationships an exploratory study
topic Violent partner relationships
Dissertations -- Social work
Theses -- Social work
Abused women -- South Africa
Women, Black -- Abuse of -- South Africa
Women -- Violence against -- South Africa
Family violence -- South Africa
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/1491
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