Misogyny and Violence against Black Lesbians: Discursive Constructions of "Corrective Rape" in South Africa

• In Event: Gender in Africa: Relationships, Identity, and Violence

Abstract

“Corrective rape”, an act where a straight man rapes a lesbian in an effort to turn her straight, is a growing problem in South Africa. Despite being hailed as the rainbow nation, South Africa refuses to address incidents of discrimination and hate crimes perpetrated against this population (specifically Black lesbians). In this paper, I examine how newspaper articles reproduce normative structures of sexuality and the ways that this reveals the cultural production of “corrective rape”. I conclude by offering some thoughts on the implications these findings have for discursive scholarship, social change, and gender justice.

Presenter

• Sarah Boeshart, University of Florida