“We Report to Traditional Leaders, but Patriarchy Means We Rarely Win the Case”: Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Wellness in Rural South Africa
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design and Setting
2.2. Participants and Recruitment
2.3. Theoretical Framework
2.4. Data Collection
2.5. Data Analysis
3. Results
3.1. Participants’ Demographics
3.2. Thematic Analysis
3.2.1. Understanding GBV
“[GBV]… is when a man is always beating his wife in the presence of her children and after that demands sex as if everything is normal.”
“It is violence that occurs between men and women… in a relationship, homes, and workplace…”
“When a man physically fights or beats you as a woman, it is called GBV because he is more powerful than you.”
“I just heard the words about GBV on the radio after one woman was found dead, and the main suspect is her husband.”
3.2.2. Common Types of GBV Experienced
“He ran after me on the road and beat me in front of community members…”
“My husband forces me to have sex with him, then acts as if nothing was wrong.”
“I was told that I am nothing without him because I am not working… I cannot achieve anything because I am from a poor family.”
“Because I’m not working and I rely on him for everything, he knows that I don’t have anywhere to go for help.”
“My uncle used to rape me when I was 14… he used to threaten me not to tell anyone.”
“When I think of what he did to me, it gives me sleepless nights, and I get angry every time I remember it.”
3.2.3. Root Causes of GBV
“My husband abuses me because he thinks he owns me after paying lobola (cultural practices of paying a bride price).”
“Alcohol is the main cause of abuse, followed by poor communication and jealousy.”
3.2.4. Health Impact of GBV
“I feel like there is no way out, and sometimes I think suicide is the only solution.”
“The abuse has left me emotionally drained. I have to take medication for the rest of my life because of him.”
3.2.5. Coping Mechanisms for Abused Women
“I stay because I am a Christian, and divorce is not an option.”
“I cannot leave because I want my children to grow up with both parents.”
“I resorted to drinking from Monday to Sunday without a break as alcohol assisted me to cope.”
“I go to church, and it gives me comfort that God will deal with my abusers because there is nothing I can do except to pray and take all my problems to him.”
3.2.6. Community Response to GBV
“There is no organisation in our community where I can report GBV and get help.”
“We report to traditional leaders, but patriarchy means we rarely win the case.”
3.2.7. Socioeconomic Drivers of Vulnerability
“I stay because I invested a lot in this marriage…”
“I am from a poor family…”
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
GBV | Gender-Based Violence |
UN | United Nations |
SSA | Sub-Saharan Africa |
SA | South Africa |
Stats SA | Statistics South Africa |
HCTREC | Human and Clinical Trials Research Ethics Committee |
Appendix A. Semi-Structured In-Depth Interview Guide for Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Wellness in Rural Collins Chabane Municipality
- Section A: Demographic Information
- How old are you?
- Are you married, single, divorced or widowed?
- What is your first language?
- Are you residing in the selected rural village within the Collins Chabane Municipality?
- Section B: Confirmation Questions
- Knowledge of GBV:
- Do you know what gender-based violence (GBV) is?
- How would you define it in your own words?
- Personal Experience:
- Have you ever experienced any form of violence in your life?
- If yes, what types of violence have you experienced?
- Who was involved in these experiences?
- Central Questions
- Health Impact of GBV:
- How has gender-based violence affected your health?
- Can you describe the health effects you have experienced due to GBV?
- How have these health effects changed or developed over time?
- Have you experienced any chronic illness or complications as a result of GBV?
- How has GBV affected your mental health?
- Follow-up and Probing Questions
- Can you describe a specific incident that made you realise the impact of GBV on your health?
- Have you sought medical or psychological help due to the effects of GBV? If so, what kind of support did you receive?
- How do you feel when these health issues are ignored or dismissed by others?
- How has your experience of GBV affected your ability to perform daily activities, work, or take care of your family?
- Closing Questions
- What advice would you give to other women who might be going through similar experiences?
- What kind of support or services do you think could help women who are experiencing GBV in your community?
- What changes would you like to see in your community to prevent GBV and its health impacts?
- Closing Remarks
- Thank you for sharing your experiences and thoughts. Is there anything else you would like to add about your experiences or any aspects of GBV that we have not yet covered?
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Characteristic | Category | Sample Size (n) | Percentage (%) |
---|---|---|---|
Age Group | 18–29 years | 4 | 20 |
30–39 years | 5 | 25 | |
40–49 years | 7 | 35 | |
50–59 years | 4 | 20 | |
Marital Status | Married | 7 | 35 |
Single | 7 | 35 | |
Divorced | 4 | 20 | |
Widowed | 2 | 10 | |
Language | Tshivenda | 18 | 90 |
Xitsonga | 2 | 10 | |
Total | 20 | 100 |
Theme | Sub-Theme | Key Finding | Representative Quotes |
---|---|---|---|
Understanding GBV | Meaning of GBV | Participants had varying levels of understanding; some saw it narrowly as physical violence by men against women, while others recognised its broader forms affecting all genders. | “GBV is when a man is always beating his wife in the presence of her children…” “It is violence that occurs between men and women. It may happen in a relationship, home, or community.” |
Common Types of GBV Experienced | Physical and Sexual Abuse | Most participants experienced physical and sexual violence from intimate partners. These were the most common and distressing forms of abuse. | “I have been physically abused by my partner…” “He forces me to have sex with him, then acts as if nothing happened.” |
Emotional and Financial Abuse | Emotional and financial abuse were frequently interlinked, with women experiencing demeaning language and financial control. | “My husband financially abuses me, refusing to give me money…” “I was told I am nothing without him…” | |
Root Causes of GBV | Cultural Norms and Patriarchy | Patriarchal beliefs and practices like lobola contributed significantly to abuse, as men felt entitled to control their partners. | “He believes that as the head of the family, his word is final…” “My husband abuses me because he thinks he owns me after paying lobola.” |
Alcohol Abuse and Poor Communication | Substance abuse and lack of communication were identified as triggers and escalators of abuse. | “Alcohol is the main cause of abuse, followed by poor communication and jealousy.” | |
Health Impact of GBV | Mental Health and Psychological Effects | Participants reported depression, suicidal thoughts, and long-term emotional trauma. | “I feel insecure and angry…” “I feel trapped… and I often forget things because of the stress.” |
Physical Health Effects | Chronic health conditions and long-term medication were common due to sustained abuse. | “The abuse has left me emotionally drained. I have to take medication for the rest of my life because of him.” | |
Coping Mechanisms for Abused Women | Religious and Cultural Beliefs | Cultural expectations and religious convictions led many women to stay in abusive relationships. | “I stay because I am a Christian, and divorce is not an option.” “I cannot leave because I want my children to grow up with both parents.” |
Financial Dependency | Financial constraints forced many participants to remain with abusive partners. | “I stay because I invested a lot in this marriage. Leaving is not an option.” | |
Community Response to GBV | Lack of Support Structures | Most participants cited inadequate support from community and social services. | “There is no organisation in our community where I can report GBV…” “Social workers are hard to access…” |
Patriarchy in Traditional Leadership | Traditional leadership was often seen as reinforcing patriarchy and failing survivors. | “We report to traditional leaders, but patriarchy means we rarely win the case.” | |
Socioeconomic Drivers of Vulnerability | Economic dependence, poverty, and lack of options forced women to remain in abusive relationships. | “I stay because I invested a lot in this marriage…” “I am from a poor family…” |
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Share and Cite
Mabasa, C.J.; Mukoma, G.G.; Manganye, B.S. “We Report to Traditional Leaders, but Patriarchy Means We Rarely Win the Case”: Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Wellness in Rural South Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060887
Mabasa CJ, Mukoma GG, Manganye BS. “We Report to Traditional Leaders, but Patriarchy Means We Rarely Win the Case”: Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Wellness in Rural South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(6):887. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060887
Chicago/Turabian StyleMabasa, Casey Joyce, Gudani Goodman Mukoma, and Bumani Solomon Manganye. 2025. "“We Report to Traditional Leaders, but Patriarchy Means We Rarely Win the Case”: Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Wellness in Rural South Africa" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 6: 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060887
APA StyleMabasa, C. J., Mukoma, G. G., & Manganye, B. S. (2025). “We Report to Traditional Leaders, but Patriarchy Means We Rarely Win the Case”: Gender-Based Violence and Women’s Wellness in Rural South Africa. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(6), 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22060887