South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma
Post-rape research and support often focuses on external stigma, yet many rape survivors experience appreciable shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma. Despite a growing literature describing the impact of these feelings on survivors' emotional wellbeing, there has been little research on th...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | SSM - Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266656032400015X |
| _version_ | 1797269007131213824 |
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| author | Samantha Willan Nwabisa Shai Thobeka Majola Mpumelelo Mabhida Sinqobile Mngadi Tholsie Gounden Rachel Jewkes Naeemah Abrahams Mercilene Machisa |
| author_facet | Samantha Willan Nwabisa Shai Thobeka Majola Mpumelelo Mabhida Sinqobile Mngadi Tholsie Gounden Rachel Jewkes Naeemah Abrahams Mercilene Machisa |
| author_sort | Samantha Willan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Post-rape research and support often focuses on external stigma, yet many rape survivors experience appreciable shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma. Despite a growing literature describing the impact of these feelings on survivors' emotional wellbeing, there has been little research on this in South Africa, where an average of 40,000 rape cases are reported annually. To strengthen our understanding of female rape survivors' experiences and perceptions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma, we undertook qualitative research with 16 survivors in eThekwini, South Africa. They participated in 2–3 in-depth and life history interviews, that sought to enable them to express how they made meaning of post-rape internalized-stigma, shame and self-blame, and how these may have influenced their psychological reactions to rape. The paper describes the women's experiences and reactions to the rape and reflects on how their descriptions contribute to theoretical perspectives on shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma. The women expressed feelings of shame, self-blame, and internalized-stigma, describing these as distinct, yet inter-connected. These feelings were a reaction to views expressed by family, community members and service providers, their relationship to the perpetrator, the extent of gossip about the incident and gender norms and rape myths. Furthermore, while the stigma was felt at an individual level, it was driven by external stigma enacted at interpersonal and structural/community levels. Women who had experienced more than one rape, explained this through the internally-stigmatizing notion of being ‘rape-able’. This study addresses a significant knowledge gap which could improve contextually appropriate post-rape care services and interventions in South Africa, particularly psychological support for survivors. Finally, while rape survivors should be supported to address their own shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma, external stigma needs to be addressed at interpersonal and structural levels. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:41:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8dde4d2bf2e484d9d1188f8ea007cd8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5603 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:41:31Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM - Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8dde4d2bf2e484d9d1188f8ea007cd82024-03-08T05:19:37ZengElsevierSSM - Mental Health2666-56032024-06-015100310South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigmaSamantha Willan0Nwabisa Shai1Thobeka Majola2Mpumelelo Mabhida3Sinqobile Mngadi4Tholsie Gounden5Rachel Jewkes6Naeemah Abrahams7Mercilene Machisa8Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; The School of Applied Human Sciences (Psychology), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa; Corresponding author. Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, 491 Pater Mokaba Ridge, Durban, South Africa.Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaGender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa; School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South AfricaPost-rape research and support often focuses on external stigma, yet many rape survivors experience appreciable shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma. Despite a growing literature describing the impact of these feelings on survivors' emotional wellbeing, there has been little research on this in South Africa, where an average of 40,000 rape cases are reported annually. To strengthen our understanding of female rape survivors' experiences and perceptions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma, we undertook qualitative research with 16 survivors in eThekwini, South Africa. They participated in 2–3 in-depth and life history interviews, that sought to enable them to express how they made meaning of post-rape internalized-stigma, shame and self-blame, and how these may have influenced their psychological reactions to rape. The paper describes the women's experiences and reactions to the rape and reflects on how their descriptions contribute to theoretical perspectives on shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma. The women expressed feelings of shame, self-blame, and internalized-stigma, describing these as distinct, yet inter-connected. These feelings were a reaction to views expressed by family, community members and service providers, their relationship to the perpetrator, the extent of gossip about the incident and gender norms and rape myths. Furthermore, while the stigma was felt at an individual level, it was driven by external stigma enacted at interpersonal and structural/community levels. Women who had experienced more than one rape, explained this through the internally-stigmatizing notion of being ‘rape-able’. This study addresses a significant knowledge gap which could improve contextually appropriate post-rape care services and interventions in South Africa, particularly psychological support for survivors. Finally, while rape survivors should be supported to address their own shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma, external stigma needs to be addressed at interpersonal and structural levels.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266656032400015XRape survivorSelf-blameShameInternalized-stigmaEmotional wellbeingSouth Africa |
| spellingShingle | Samantha Willan Nwabisa Shai Thobeka Majola Mpumelelo Mabhida Sinqobile Mngadi Tholsie Gounden Rachel Jewkes Naeemah Abrahams Mercilene Machisa South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma SSM - Mental Health Rape survivor Self-blame Shame Internalized-stigma Emotional wellbeing South Africa |
| title | South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma |
| title_full | South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma |
| title_fullStr | South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma |
| title_full_unstemmed | South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma |
| title_short | South African rape survivors’ expressions of shame, self-blame and internalized-stigma |
| title_sort | south african rape survivors expressions of shame self blame and internalized stigma |
| topic | Rape survivor Self-blame Shame Internalized-stigma Emotional wellbeing South Africa |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266656032400015X |
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