Category Archives: Masculinity
Rebecca Davis on official irregular violence/killings
Lee Levin, Sport and socialism
Sarah Evans, Diepsloot women demand their children’s safety
Child rape has become one of the scourges of the new South Africa Continue reading
Andisiwe Makinana, Traditional courts fracas goes on
Rebecca Davis, When culture and policing collide. Circumcision deaths and ukuthwala -unpunished crimes
The area of what is described as cultural practices has now become a site where there are extensive abuses Continue reading
Raymond Suttner, Response to comments on my article in the Mail and Guardian of 27 September 2013
I recently published an article analysing the degeneration of the ANC led tripartite alliance. Continue reading
Nomboniso Gasa, The sting is in Vavi’s choice of words
Elizabeth, Thornberry: Validity of “ukuthwala” depends on definition of custom
Nomboniso Gasa, Women must lead initiation debate
Sisonke Msimang, Dear corruption watch. What about the victim?
This article by Sisonke Msimang asks why Corruption Watch did no more than ‘censure’ Zwelinzima Vavi Continue reading
Laura Kapelari, Social media rape culture and how women are fighting back
Nomboniso Gasa on patriarchy in history and SA today
Mandisi Majavu, Vavi: Discursive Tension Stifles Rape Discussion
Another take on the alleged rape or ‘consensual’ sex engaged in by Zwelinzima Vavi in COSATU HQ. While I think the writer brings some insights that have not been in the debate, the power relationship seems somehow to be lost in the various discourses that the writer examines. While ‘discursive tension’ may stifle debate, without detracting from what the contribution reveals, does it open that debate on Vavi’s actions, any further than it has been up till now?
Athambile Masola, Women’s bodies are not fodder for power games
Raymond Suttner, Power and sexual encounters in the work place
The recent rape allegations against Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretaty of COSATU has led to a range of arguments, which obscure the character of the sexual encounter, Continue reading
Sisonke Msimang, Who killed Pinky Mosiane?
This article demonstrates how the regulations stipulating that women be employed underground in the mines, is not supported by measures to protect them from sexual abuse. The murder of Pinky Mosiane has not been properly investigated nor has Anglo American or the National Union of Mineworkers taken firm steps to see that justice is done. While women working underground are especially vulnerable it is part of an overall situation where most women report sexual harassment at the workplace in South Africa
http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2013-08-01-who-killed-pinky-mosiane/#.UfniGY03ByU
Rebecca Davis, Of Good report. sugar daddies and Vavi
While reviewing the unbanning of a film previously banned as provocative, the author relates some of the issues raised with regard to a relationship of unequal power to the recent allegation of rape against Zwelinzima Vavi, General Secretary of COSATU. The allegation was withdrawn in an internal grievance process of COSATU. But even if one accepts that that ends the question of rape, which is doubtful, Vavi admitted to having a sexual encounter with a woman who was an employee in COSATU and thus dependent on him for her employment and any possible promotion. Hence this was an unequal encounter and raises questions about the character of consent, if it is given. This cannot be reduced to whether Vavi is unfaithful to his wife, nor to conspliracies to drive him out of COSATU. Davis briefly alludes to the way in which patriarchy plays itself out in the work place
David Massey, Do we have to talk about rape every day?
Raymond Suttner, Nelson Mandela as a model of manhood
Whereas earlier studies of gender concentrated on women, recent decades have seen a flourishing of literature on masculinities, Continue reading
Raymond Suttner 