South Africa is grappling with a serious issue: gender-based violence. Many of us are aware of it. But to truly address this problem, we need to look beyond the surface and delve into the root causes, particularly, the role of mental health, childhood trauma, and toxic masculinity in men.
Johannesburg, South Africa (03 December 2024) – We’ve all heard it: “Nothing changes if nothing changes.” But when it comes to the scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa, it’s time to break that cycle.
Well, within 16 Days of Activism, we’re all called to go beyond just talking about the campaign but rather address the urgent need to heal men – the primary perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV), as the key to breaking the cycle of abuse.
The Root of GBV
A recent study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) has shed light on the dark underbelly of GBV in our country. It’s not just about anger or malice; it’s about deep-rooted issues like childhood trauma, mental health struggles, and toxic masculinity.
Speaking on the concerning findings underscored by the study, Craig Wilkinson, Founder and CEO at Father A Nation, shared:
Speaking on the concerning findings underscored by the first national GBV study by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), which delves into the core drivers of this crisis in South Africa (SA), Craig Wilkinson, Founder and CEO at Father A Nation shared:
“The findings are a wake-up call: mental health struggles, childhood trauma, and distorted notions of masculinity are fuelling destructive male behaviour and driving SA’s unacceptably high rates of GBV. If SA is to make meaningful progress in eradicating GBV, these root causes must be addressed with urgency and intentionality.”
Boys Aren’t Born Abusers
Since its inception in 2010, Father A Nation (FAN), a leading non-profit organisation tackling the root causes of GBV, crime and fatherlessness, has asserted that “if we heal men, we will heal society.”
This eye-opening study affirms FAN’s stance, a leading non-profit organisation tackling the root causes of GBV, crime and fatherlessness.
The study challenges the damaging notion that abuse is inherent in men, emphasising instead that no boy is born an abuser.
“It’s simply not in the DNA of a man to harm a woman or child. Something has to go horribly wrong in a boy’s journey to adulthood for him to become abusive,” says Wilkinson who believes that healing men is the key to healing society.
He added that other issues such as suicide, addiction and violence are destructive patterns often rooted in untreated trauma and that ignoring this comes at a devastating cost.
According to FAN, if our country wants to turn the tide on GBV, it must invest significantly in psycho-social support for men and boys and teach positive, healthy masculinity. Counselling, mentorship, and trauma healing must become accessible and mainstream.
Toxic Masculinity: A Crisis of Identity
The study also sheds light on how distorted ideas of masculinity perpetuate abuse. Many men grow up without positive male role models, leading them to adopt harmful stereotypes of masculinity. This can result in aggression, dominance, and a lack of empathy.
The SA fatherlessness crisis exacerbates this challenge. Without men to model what it means to be a good man, young boys are left vulnerable to adopting destructive notions of power and manhood.
The HSRC study revealed some shocking statistics:
- 70% of men believe a woman should obey her husband.
- 23% believe a woman can never refuse sex with her husband.
- 15% believe a husband has the right to punish his wife for perceived wrongs.
“These beliefs are not just wrong—they are dangerous,” Wilkinson asserts.
“If we do not dismantle these myths, we cannot expect to see a meaningful reduction in GBV.” “These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions that address the systemic and behavioural drivers of GBV, with a focus on mental health, substance abuse, and transforming harmful gender norms,” the HSRC said in its study.
Wilkinson notes emotional woundedness, distorted notions of masculinity, false beliefs about women’s value, and emasculating circumstances as the driving forces behind abuse and that while helping explain abusive behaviour, they can never be used as excuses.
Healing Through Accountability
To end GBV, South Africa must reframe its approach; this does not absolve men of accountability; rather, it demands that society address the conditions that allow abuse to flourish in the first place.
The solution lies in education, mental health interventions, and fostering a culture of healthy masculinity. Schools, communities, workplaces, and faith-based organizations all have a role to play.
Wilkinson emphasises that:
“Raising boys to be the fathers, brothers, and leaders they were meant to be will not only protect women from abuse but will save our nation from the devastating tide of violent crime, fatherlessness and corruption.”
This year, let South Africa’s 16 Days of Activism be a rallying cry for healing—healing the men who harm and, in doing so, healing the women, children, and nation they hurt. Only then can we hope to stop the cycle of violence and build a safer, more compassionate society for all.
Visit https://fatheranation.co.za/ to find out more about the courses and initiatives offered by FAN or to contribute to their high-impact programmes.
Sources: Father A Nation
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