Browsing by Author "De Swardt, Catherine"

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    Open Access
    Speaking with rape survivors : an analysis of the stories women share
    (2006) De Swardt, Catherine; Maw, Anastasia
    Rape is an all too familiar phenomenon in South Africa. Yet, whereas there is a growingliterature in the west, which examines the everyday understandings of rape amongst women, inSouth Africa documented understanding of rape is largely contained within theoretical-sociological explanations for its high prevalence. This study aimed to explore the ways in which a group of rape survivors in the Western Cape, South Africa, make sense of rape and its impact on their lives. A secondary aim was to examine whether Western trauma classifications provide a useful framework for understanding the impact of rape in this context. The study formed the qualitative component of a larger quantitative study focused on women's adherence to anti-retroviral medication post rape (The Post Exposure Prophylaxis Study). The research question was approached from a feminist social constructionist perspective, using qualitative methodology. In depth interviews with ten rape survivors were carried out, six months postrape.