Woman Abuse in South Africa

This exploratory study addresses the issue of woman abuse in South Africa and the resources for victimized women and children, or their absence. It provides documentation for the expansion of social, health, and legal services on behalf of this at-risk population. Ethnographic interviews were conducted with a convenience sample of 37 South African women from various community settings and institutions in the Johannesburg region, and interview data were grouped in categories. Two focus groups addressed issues that emerged from interview data. This study affirms the need for national survey data and in-depth research with abused women themselves to obtain a fuller picture of the personal, familial, and societal costs of violence against women. An unvarnished acknowledgment of domestic violence and its physical, emotional, and social toll on community stability and health is integral to the new South Africa's pursuit of political and economic reform.