The Myth Of “rape Culture”: A Critique Of Feminist Distortions Of The Culture Concept In The Gender War In South Africa, And Their Implications For Development

Abstract

In recent years, in the popular news, public and social media, commentators have continuously made reference to something called rape culture in South Africa. This concept has become particularly used to describe and explain the phenomenon of sexual violence, specifically against women and children. The notion of a rape culture implies several things. First, it presupposes that there is, in fact, a culture of rape in South Africa. Second, it presupposes and imposes a specific feminist interpretation of the meaning of such a rape culture. Third, as a consequence of this imposed meaning, it is assumed that what we are told is meant by rape culture is in fact the reality, leaving little room for alternative perspectives or contestation. Fourth, the implied meaning of rape culture is contextualised within the so-called gender war, a phenomenon emanating from the liberal feminist and gynocentric social movements in the West, where there appears to be a deliberate attempt to demonise men through the use of state legislation and institutions. This article argues that all of these implications and presuppositions are based on an erroneous view of rape culture. It is further argued that what is called rape culture is in fact not a culture at all. The article concludes by explaining why it is necessary to move away from feminist distortion of the concept of culture as such distortion will hamper development in South Africa, and will have the opposite effect especially in regards to women and development.