Thank you to the NWU for the financial support you gave me during the duration of my studies. The Covid-19 pandemic has also had an impact on the increase in gender-based violence cases in South Africa.
Introduction, problem statement and research method
Research title and key terms
- Research title
- Key terms
Having looked at the 'what' in the second chapter, the researcher will next examine the 'why' of GBV and femicide in South Africa. 61 In order to adequately answer the question “why is it happening” (Osmer, 2008:4), the researcher will make use of social learning theory and ecological systems theory.
Concept clarification / defenition of concepts
Background and problem statement
- Background
- Problem statement
The researcher believes that this is one of the foundational verses that point to the church's prophetic voice in matters concerning GBV. As a result, the researcher will examine the role of the church in responding to GBV and discuss ways in which the church can provide hope to those affected by GBV.
Preliminary literature review and contextualisation
Russel and Harmes (cited by Corradi et al) further expanded the concept of femicide and asserted that it refers to “the death of females resulting from any form of abuse by males.” Weil (2018:1) defined femicide as: “The killing of the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender usually by intimate partners or family members.” The notion of caring for pastoral hope serves as a critical response to the church for those affected by GBV and femicide.
Contribution of the study
Within this study, the researcher will examine the pastoral care of hope towards those affected by GBV and femicide. This framework considers the basic principles of pastoral care and integrates them in a way that enables the church to respond appropriately to those affected by GBV and femicide.
Research question and further questions
- Research question
- Further questions arising from the research question
This will be achieved by developing a hermeneutic framework that can be used in the application of an appropriate response to sexual violence and femicide. In addition, the study will serve as a guide for the church to respond appropriately to sexual violence with hope that it is a fundamental aspect.
Research aim and objectives
- Research aim
- Research objectives
Central theoretical argument
Research methodology
The researcher will identify biblical perspectives that can be used in addressing gender-based violence and femicide. The researcher will use biblical texts and commentaries to answer the question in this assignment.
Ethical implications
Within the context of this task, the researcher will answer the question: "How can the church respond adequately to GBV and femicide from a South African perspective?" In order to adequately answer this question, the researcher will integrate a hermeneutic framework to help answer the question that forms part of this task. Within the context of the pragmatic task, the researcher will evaluate the theory of practice in which the church must respond to the issue of GBV and femicide.
Provisional classification of chapters
maintained that the pragmatic task aims to combat actions that seek to influence situations in desirable ways. The response maintained within this task should be Christ-centered, although the use of an interdisciplinary approach can still be considered useful in responding to a situation.
Descriptive analysis of GBV within a South African Context
Introduction
Contextualisation
- GBV as a violation of freedom
- The nature and context of GBV in South Africa
- South Africa’s readiness to achieve the SDGs by the year 2030
This reminds the researcher to think about the current blessing trend which is common in South Africa (Palfreman, 2020:i). From the researcher's perspective, this goal can be integrated with the fifth goal.
The prevalence of GBV within the context of South Africa
- Attitudes and perceptions of violence in South Africa
- Current trends in femicide and violence against children
- Current trends in femicide
- Current trends in child murders
- Current trends in sexual offences in SA
In the following section, the researcher will discuss the prevalence of GBV in South Africa. According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA, 2018:5) this statistic was very surprising because most white women were slightly more exposed to "human rights issues and liberal thinking". The researcher argues that other aspects such as religious teachings on aspects such as submission and authority can have an impact on what women consider acceptable or unacceptable behavior.
GBV within the context of the church
- The role of the church in promoting violent behaviour towards women
In the next section, the researcher will look at sexual violence in the context of the church and explore how the church played a role in perpetuating the violence. In this section, the researcher will evaluate the concept of violence against women and women in the context of the church. In the next part, the researcher will discuss the sad role of the church in promoting violent behavior towards women.
This in itself can evoke mixed messages around the actual purpose and role of the church.
Hermeneutical framework
- A brief discussion of the concepts spirit, soul and body
- The effects of GBV on the three elements of humanity
Now that the diagram has given us a brief overview of the elements of mind, soul, and body, the researcher will provide a conceptualization of each element. From the researcher's point of view, this is the part of our being that is visible to humanity. This section is merely a reflection of the effects of gender-based violence on every dimension of our being from a researcher's perspective.
The researcher will use a schematic framework to describe the impact of gender-based violence on the body, mind and spirit.
Conclusion
The study found that GBV is rooted in gender inequality and it is classified as a violation of the basic human rights of individuals. Furthermore, the study found that in SA more than two thousand women become victims of murder every year. In this section, the researcher found that the church does play a prominent role in promoting GBV.
In this section, the study found that humans are tripartite and each element of the human being is interconnected.
Interpretive analysis of GBV in South Africa
- Introduction
- What is an interdisciplinary approach?
- Why is an interdisciplinary approach important for the GBV response?
- Psychological perspectives
- Social learning theories
- Ecological systems theory
- Biblical perspectives
- Sinfulness and brokenness in the world
- The misinterpretation of Scripture
- Conclusion
The researcher believes that communicative action is needed to win the fight against GBV and femicide. In the following section, the researcher will discuss the psychological perspectives that play a role in understanding GBV and femicide. In this section, the researcher will discuss some psychological perspectives that play a role in the perpetration of violent behaviors that lead to GBV and femicide.
In the next section, the researcher will discuss further reasons why GBV and femicide remain a problem with specific focus on the ecological systems theory.
Normative task - Scriptural perspectives on GBV
Introduction
Finally, the investigator will discuss mankind as created in the image of God, as described in Genesis 1:27. As part of this discussion, the focus will be on creating a link between the true essence of being created in the image of God in relation to GBV.
Conceptualising exegesis
Conceptualising the moral laws
- GBV and femicide as an issue of morality
It is important to note, however, that these constant murders of women and children are contrary to the nature of God. In the book of Genesis it becomes clear that violence does not glorify the character of God. From a New Testament perspective, it is clear that these commandments are still relevant.
The researcher believes that it is imperative for churches not only to preach obedience to God's word, but it is also important to follow God's example.
Biblical perspectives on the sexual assault of women
Therefore, it is important that church leaders ensure that those who engage in violent acts are held accountable for their actions. It is disheartening that so many people continue to commit sexual crimes against women and children, but they are never held accountable for their actions (PBS NewsHour, 2019). Instead of blaming victims of abuse for their experiences, it is imperative to hold them accountable for this abuse.
In order to get to a place where we see a decrease in the incidence of GBV cases in our country, it is essential to address it at a family level.
An exegetical study on GBV
- Overview
- Context of judges 19
- Historical context
- Literary context
- Structure
- Language
- Revelation
- Integration
According to an argument made by Masenya, it was asserted that in the context of Israel "women's sexuality was owned by their husbands". Concubine” – The King James Version of the Bible (Bible Hub, 2021) used the word piylegesh to indicate that the concubine was possibly the second wife of the Levite (Gunn, 2005:243). Trible (1984:65) describes the story of the unnamed concubine in the Book of Judges as describing "the horrors of male power, brutality and triumphalism, of female impotence, abuse and annihilation."
So now I am the man': Intimate partner femicide and its interconnections with expressions of masculinity in South Africa.
Humanity/mankind as created in the image of God
Conclusion
In this discussion, the moral laws were found to be a set of divine living standards for mankind. Furthermore, the Judges 19 narrative was found to be metaphorical to the reality that GBV is rooted in the abuse of power and various socio-economic factors. However, GBV and femicide have often been found to be rooted in the false ideology that women are inferior to their male counterparts.
From this argument, it was found that GBV often poses a threat to the identity of those who encounter it.
A pragmatic interpretation of GBV and femicide
- Introduction
- Understanding the role of the church in responding to GBV and femicide
- Can the church effectively respond to GBV and femicide in South Africa?
- Pastoral guidelines for victims of GBV and femicide
- Conclusion
One is very happy or calm, and ten is very upset.” The following figure gives a brief overview of how the emotion scale works in relation to stress and anxiety. Psalm 34 states the following: “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he saves them from all their problems. In this chapter, the central focus of the research is “A Pastoral Study of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in South Africa”.
The research problem statement indicates that GBV and femicide are common problems in South Africa.
Conclusion and recommendations
Introduction
Conclusion
- Conclusions based on chapter one
- Conclusions based on the descriptive-empirical task
- Conclusions based on the interpretive task
- Conclusions based on the normative task
- Conclusions based on the pragmatic task
Before answering the statement proposed by the CTA, it was important to identify the context of GBV and femicide from a South African perspective. Through this contextualization, it was found that GBV is a violation of the basic human rights of women and children in South Africa. It was found that it takes away the freedom of women and children to feel safe in their respective environments.
As part of this discussion, it was discovered that the biblical text speaks out on the issue of rape.
Recommendations
Priscilla Papers https://www.cbeinternational.org/resource/article/priscilla-papers-academic-journal/voices-outrage-against-rape Date accessed: 4 November 2021.
