A 1x6 Discussion

Every other Wednesday, 6 very different bloggers will come together to answer a single question. ** To view the speakers blog, simply click on their name and it will link you to their page**


Topic: What do you think about corrective rape in South Africa and its human rights consequences?

Aricia: I will try to be as gentle with this as possible. I will say first and foremost that I do NOT agree with corrective rape. HOWEVER, what people tend to forget, is that this a completely and totally DIFFERENT culture then how things are in America. That doesn't mean I condone it, but people need to understand that there are a LOT of different things that happen in other countries that Americans wouldn't agree with, for example: some cultures remove a girls clitoris, before she's a teenager, while others simply sow close there vaginas. I, like other Americans, find this sort of thing repulsive, and barbaric, but it happens and it's apart of their culture. I regret that this so called "corrective" rape happens to women and children, but I try not to judge and keep an open mind about the culture. Granted every culture has their dark side... and maybe this is South Africa's.


Abrowngirlgonegay: I don't know when people are going to realize that this is not a chosen lifestyle. Being homosexual is not something that can be prayed away, treated with therapy, or cured by rape. We are who we are and we don't deserve to live our life in fear because of it.

I can't imagine living in a country where my basic human rights were not acknowledged. I should be able to go about my business, loving who I want without fear of being attacked. To be attacked and then have my country basically say it's okay would make me feel so insignificant, like a second class citizen, very much like how crimes against slaves were seen back in those times.



BWABW: "Corrective" rape in South Africa absolutely appalls and disgusts me. I simply cannot understand the logic behind it... probably because hate is usually grounded in illogical. If someone disagrees with homosexuality and feels it is a moral sin, how can something like rape,which is immoral in and of itself, correct something else that the same person believes is supposedly immoral? It just doesn't make sense. The same goes for people who physically or verbally harm homosexuals or "Christians" that judge them. That mentality is simply hypocritical. I don't care where you stand on the gay rights issues. This is a HUMAN rights issue and it is wrong, wrong, wrong to physically harm someone because you don't condone their lifestyle. I would never advocate hurting a homophobe because of his/her beliefs. There is no justification, no matter how you look at it. The individuals that perform "corrective" rape need to be persecuted for their actions (and I don't mean death penalty because I am also against that). Communities in South Africa (and all over the world) also need to start, if they haven't yet, talking about how they can protect women, fight this mentality, and heal.


Steadycat: There is no such thing as corrective rape. What a nasty excuse for a male dominated culture to not only rape vulnerable women but to get applauded by other men for doing so. If rape was a corrective measure, the we should allow fathers to rape their daughters for making bad grades in school. Or better yet, if she has a deformed leg, he can rape her until the leg straightens out and she no longer limps. * Spits * I refuse to call what they're doing corrective rape. It is gang rape of vulnerable women in a male controlled society that doesn't give a damn about its females. Tomorrow they can gang rape because they don't like the weather.


Stud with Swag: Corrective Rape. These fourteen letters weren't joined together as one by the Victims of the crime itself, but born of the justification of their attackers and those who turn a blind eye to the brutality of the crime. The term "corrective" adds insult to an already devastating injury because lesbians are also being targeted for and threatened with murder for living openly and in fear simply because they are gay. Rape is rape not matter the reason given or name applied and it's never acceptable. The fact is South African women and children are the leading victims rape according to the current statistics. The laze-faire attitudes and lack of concern for the welfare of women and children in the country are breeding grounds for violent crime.

It leaves me to wonder what kind of society finds normalcy in violence against women and children and how many more other crimes go unreported. It suggests that the lack of legal convictions further condones the mindset and attitudes. I learned that recently sworn in president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, was acquitted of a rape many felt him guilty of committing a few years ago. This presents an unusual set of circumstances considering homosexuality is considered "un-African" in the region. Homophobia gets a government sponsored pass and women and children suffer a sexual assault every 17 seconds. It's not so much a matter of waiting to see if bias will come into play since he was once charged as a rapist, it's a matter of not allowing it to. Homosexual men aren't being raped so while the word does accurately apply, the fight against rape is all encompassing and tireless it must be waged and won within the South African community. Unfortunately, the human rights consequences aren't enough to stop this devastation from occurring.


Glennisha Morgan: When I first learned about the corrective rape that takes place in South Africa (and a few other countries as well) I was extremely hurt and disgusted. The fact that people actually think rape is going to change someone's sexuality is just insane. I was raped before for whatever reason but, I can't imagine being raped simply because I'm a lesbian. Not to say that this probably has never happened before in the United States but, I know that in some other countries they feel like they're doing a good thing. I had watched a documentary on this where the men felt like they were actually going to "cure" lesbians by raping them. It's just amazing to me how in some other places behavior like this is acceptable. It always makes me feel grateful about living in the United States. Here we fight against things like Proposition 8 but, we don't have to worry about possibly getting raped or attacked just for being homosexual. Again, not to say that attacks against homosexuals don't take place here but, they are definitely at a minimum compared to other countries.I've always been against people going into other countries in attempt to change their way of life or lifestyles but, when it comes to issues like this I feel like action needs to be taken. The question is what type of action? How can you attempt to change someone's mindset when they feel as if what they're doing is right and some places they feel as if they're doing the work of God.