What is the state of mind of men who commit GBV? An expert weighs in

News24

2 days ago

Women in South Africa are disproportionately affected by violent crimes, says the police minister.
Factors like poverty and distorted views of gender roles exacerbate GBV.
An expert says men need to redefine masculinity and embrace empathy.
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It seems like everyday South Africans are reeling from an incomprehensible tragedy.
The latest case that rocked the nation is that of Olorato Mongale, a 30-year-old journalism graduate who was found brutally murdered in Lombardy West, Johannesburg, after going on a date.
The police are actively working on the case, with one of the suspects killed in a shootout with the cops in KwaZulu-Natal, one suspect is cleared and another the subject of a police manhunt. In the meantime, Olorato's loved ones and the whole country are still grappling with the brutal end Olorato and many women and children across South Africa faced at the hands of men.
Gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) have become a serious pandemic, leaving women and children facing a frightening reality in their day-to-day lives.
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu expressed that, 'while we acknowledge that GBVF affects all genders, women remain disproportionately affected by rape, assault GBH (grievous bodily harm) and murder. Our resolve to fight GBVF is unwavering'.
We live in a culture that glorifies and resorts to violence, and with statistics like one in five women in relationships experiencing physical violence by a partner, its time for men to look inward, change their mindset and denounce toxic masculinity.
But first, let's look into what factors create this distressing mindset.
The state of mind of South African men who commit GBV
Violence as a response to internal or external stressors is a phenomenon that is usually influenced by factors like societal norms, pressures, distorted beliefs about genders and mental illness, Dr Gagu Matsebula, a member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists, tells TRUELOVE.
Dr Gagu goes on to explain that, 'The first factor is a sense of patriarchy and misogyny and in this state of mind, women and children are framed as being subordinate or possessions or bearers of male honour. As such, violence is then used to control these population groups and to punish any form of perceived disobedience. Another factor could be a sense of entitlement, where some perpetrators of violence display entitlement over women and children's bodies, lack of empathy and they use aggression to control women and children.
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'Another possible factor that could influence the state of South African men who commit acts of violence against women and children is psychological trauma. We do know that violence, neglect and trauma - to mention a few - in childhood may, and that's the operative word, may lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms. For an example, violence then becomes a learned or default response to conflict or stress or feelings of powerlessness,' Dr Gagu shares.
Issues like poverty and unemployment can also lead men to use violence and aggression to assert dominance and control over women and children, especially in the home. But one thing Dr Gagu couldn't stress enough is that neglect, childhood trauma or ill mental health doesn't automatically lead to a violent man.
He implores that 'We should try to shy away or to run away from framing GBV primarily as a mental health issue. By doing so, we are distracting from accountability and the required systemic changes that need to be put into place to deal with the scourge of GBV in South Africa.'
Tangible ways men can change their mindset
It's easy to tell others to do better, but what exactly is that 'better'?
From redefining masculinity to taking part in community initiatives, Dr Gagu breaks down some helpful and tangible ways men can do the work and treat women as equals.
'Men have to learn to challenge toxic ideas of masculinity and here we're speaking about dominance, we're speaking about emotional suppression and we're also speaking about aggression as well,' he shares.
'Men need to redefine masculinity. They need to come up with a new model of masculinity, which is based on empathy, emotional intelligence, emotional expression and viewing women as equals. The other thing that men can do is to undertake what we call positive role-modeling, and that is where male figures who model healthy masculinity, as I've described it, are not only promoted but are also supported as well.'
Public figures and community leaders should be consistently speaking out too, says Dr Gagu.
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'When a man has been arrested and has been charged, he must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and if found guilty, he must be sentenced in a manner that sends out a clear, unambiguous message to society about how unacceptable and how abhorrent gender-based violence is.
'So, there must be an enforcement of strict legal consequences. And for those men that have been arrested, it would be beneficial to ensure that we have some form of rehabilitative programmes, either in prisons or via court mandated interventions.'
Community initiatives men can join