Violence against women and poverty literally go hand in hand. It is unfortunately true that a high proportion of all women in South Africa suffer an inordinate number of beatings, rape and emotional abuse. However, being poor increases that risk of exposure to violence enormously.
There is growing evidence that living in
impoverished conditions increases a woman's risk to all types of violence.
Murder rates worldwide, as an example, are found to be highest in areas where
poverty is the most prevalent. This is not to say that there is always a direct
relationship between poverty and violence - but poverty is an important factor
that needs to be considered when trying to understand the rates and
distribution of violence against women.
Women's vulnerability derives not only from the
threat of direct violence. They have been the historic victims of political and
economic exclusion and have suffered the ravages of patriarchy, sexism and
discriminatory practices that have kept them outside of social, political and
economic power structures. In addition, socio-cultural conditioning has
resulted in the fact that women and girls are often prepared for marriage and
child-rearing but not for the job market.
This economic vulnerability limits their chances to
change their situation when confronted with violence. Poverty-stricken women,
and particularly those in rural areas, are often financially dependent, have
limited access to employment and are unsupported mothers who must fulfil the
role of caregiver. As a result they have few alternatives and options if they
wish to leave a violent situation or community. On top of this, in most
impoverished areas in South Africa, women have limited access to health,
education, social, psychological and legal services.
The result is that there is evidence to show that
African women, who are undoubtedly the poorest sector of our society, are more
than ten times likely to experience an incidence of violence compared to their
white counterparts. Recent South African police statistics also show that
levels of rape are often highest in provinces which are economically less
developed.
The reasons for this relationship between violence
against women and poverty are numerous. apartheid's economic exploitation and
segregation systematically resulted in much higher levels of poverty for black
South Africans and women in particular. A range of factors have contributed to
high levels of violence against women in poor areas. These factors include
transiency of the population, over-crowding, disrupted family life, a mentality
of dependency and the socialised acceptance of violence as a way to solve
problems.
It is thus imperative that programmes designed to
eradicate poverty and reduce violence against women address the many social and
economic complexities that contribute to the magnitude of oppression that poor
women face. While there is a need for broad national policies and campaigns,
local programmes targeted to the specific needs of diverse communities are
essential. As the needs of rural and urban communities in each province will
differ, so too will the approach needed to combat violence and poverty vary in
each community. Above all what is needed is a gender focused development
strategy which takes into consideration the unique needs of poor women.
A gendered approach to poverty reduction would
concentrate on the economic development and empowerment of poor women. It would
provide resource generating opportunities that are easily accessible and
conducive to a woman's needs and, if necessary, her schedule as a caregiver. In
rural areas, it is crucial that indigenous women be given access to the
ownership of land. Programmes should provide financial assistance and credit at
accommodating interest rates and convenient terms of repayment so as to
increase a woman's opportunity to engage in small scale business activities.
Programmes must provide education and employment training that builds the
capacity of women to become economically independent and thus enables them to
alter situations of violence. Functional literacy programmes are a crucial step
in empowering women to take control of their own lives.
It is also necessary when designing poverty
eradication programmes to address the social and public health depravation of
poor communities. Free and accessible health services for women and children
must be provided. Services such as shelters for abused women, counselling
services and legal resources are essential if women suffering from violence are
to be empowered to transform their situation.
As demonstrated, violence against women is a
multi-dimensional issue. Despite the complexities, or perhaps because of them,
it is important that there be a national learning process against such
violence. The problem calls for a campaign on human rights that promotes a
culture of tolerance, that cultivates respect for women's economic and social
contributions and that advocates for women's safety and ultimately their lives.
There is much to be done in the fight against
violence and poverty and the effect these have on women. However, we owe it to
those women who suffer from the double oppression of poverty and violence to
help them to transform conditions of dependence and hopelessness to those of
empowerment and progress.