For many girls, violence or force describes their first sexual experience. In South Africa, 10% (or maybe up to 33%) of sexually experienced young women had been forced to have sex. Moreover, research shows a strong correlation between sexual, physical, emotional abuse against women and women’s chances of being HIV-infected. The most common form of violence perpetrated against women is violence at the hands of their intimate partners. Also women have no legal support or shelters for refuge.
I have seen women come in with deep blistering infected welts covering every itch of skin including the face. I have seen sisters as young 12 years old with reports of rape, yet act surprisingly calm and maybe too accepting of their horror. The week before I arrived in Nongoma, one of the young female staff members was shot to death by her boyfriend on hospital grounds.
Her memorial service was small but remarkable. As a stranger and outsider, I sat in awe for three hours as gospel music and amens flowed from every soul in the room. Her co-workers placed a charming portrait of her on a chair surrounded by a scattering of flowers. Five people including one of the Zulu King’s wife spoke (in Zulu) about her life in such passion and vigor. I did not understand a single word, but the intensity of their voices showed love and resilience. Each speaker stood seemingly meek and powerless as they quietly walked to the front of the room. Yet each speaker from grandfather to best friend surprised me with their command of oration. Their voices shined with hope, tinged with frustration, and underlined with desperation for change. They demanded attention, wanting their old way of life, but realizing that they must choose to battle for a new way of life.
The Zulus don’t condone violence. In fact, I have only met kind and generous people here in Nongoma. But HIV/AIDS and apartheid demands the “survival of the fittest.” To that end, people must chew, gnaw, and bite any obstruction to survival. HIV and violence are one of the peripheral symptoms of unemployment, ignorance, and poverty across the world including the United States.
I wish I had the solution to wipe out poverty, but I guess in life there can’t be a top without a bottom.
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2 comments:
Right-on Cuong. This is one of my favorite soap-boxes to stand on - the insanity of gender-based violence in South Africa and its absolutely terrifying relation to HIV infection. I did a study on child sexual abuse in SA, and anyone who is interested can download it from http://www.cadre.org.za/publications.htm
It's shocking!
Susan
Very accurate observation, Cuong. It's the poverty and ignorance that engenders the dissolution of society. While it may be true that there can't be a top without a bottom, there can be a lowering of the top and rising of the bottom so that the disparity is not overwhelming to so many. The solution lies in education and touching the hearts of those who have much, thus inspiring them to assist their fellow men/women. Pamela
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