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Title "When men beat women": A critical examination of the literary presentation of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the anthology We must choose life (2008) by Elizabeth Ikhaxas (Ed.)
Full text http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3061
Date 2021
Author(s) Nauyoma, Oiva S.
Abstract A research thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in English Studies - Gender-based violence is a global problem of great concern. This thesis is a critical examination of the literary presentation of gender-based violence in the anthology We Must Choose Life (2008) by Elizabeth IKhaxas (Ed). The study is framed within the paradigm of 'when men beat women' which examines male on female violence as a form of gender-based violence in Namibia as presented in the selected literary anthology We Must Choose Life (2008). Largely a desktop study, the thesis is qualitative in nature and employs a content analysis approach to analyse the selected pieces within the anthology. The textual analysis was informed by three theoretical frameworks, namely, Ecofeminism (d'Eaubonne, 1974), Trauma (Caruth, 1996) and Resilience (Rutter, 1987). Ecofeminism examines the suffering of women from the dominant influence of a male-oriented society. Trauma Theory explores a person's emotional response to an overwhelming event that disrupts previous ideas of an individual's sense and the standards by which one evaluates society, while Resilience Theory emphasises the strengths that one has, rather than one's vulnerability, through exploring the coping strategies. The study revealed that gender roles, norms and assumptions form a repository of the techniques of violence and acceptance of violence. In this respect, specific forms of abuse of women have been identified as gender-based violence with the level of acceptability. It was further observed that some Namibian women have long-standing abusive relationships due to over-dependence on the perpetrators of violence for socio-economic support, fear of the perpetrators' reprisals, as well as conformity to cultural and religious practices. Based on the findings, the study recommends further investigation of gender roles and relationship problems, in particular, gender-based violence. Further studies to encourage men to write an anthology that examines gender-based violence against men in society, and empowers women to be actively involved in the development of a violence-free environment are still green areas for research.
Subject(s) Gender based violence
Language en
Publisher University of Namibia
Type of publication Thesis
Repository Windhoek - University of Namibia
Added to C-A: 2022-02-09;10:25:09