Perceptions of Power, Race and Gender in Interracial Rape

Abstract

Violence against women is a profound social problem which has received much attention from feminists, academics, activists, media, and also government. One such form of violence is interracial rape. In South Africa, little is known about interracial rape (rape across race groups). The main aim of this study is to examine students' perceptions of power, gender and race in interracial rape. This thesis also explores what White male and female students said, and what Black male and female students said about power, race and gender when examining interracial rape. This study is based within an interpretive-hermeneutical paradigm, using qualitative methodology. Data was collected in six focus groups, three of which were held at a historically Black university and three at a historically White university. Both men and women participated in these groups. The data was analysed thematically with the aid of a computerised software package, Atlasti. The analysed text identified dominant and minor themes. The main themes that emerged were as follows: 1) a power and domination theme, 2) a justification of rape theme, 3) a race, racism and apartheid theme. The results indicate that power plays an important role in interracial rape. Power underpins both gendered and racial oppression. In interracial rape, racial oppression becomes dominant and takes on more prominence than gender oppression. It is thus fore mostly perceived as a racial issue