Readers' Speakout

READERS SPEAKOUT
ARCHIVE - August 2001-->

IMPACT OF AIDS ON HEALTH WORKERS
From: "MEJ. JL CHOULER"
Subject: looking for information
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2001 15:41:06 +0200

I am a student at Stellenbosch University embarking on a research assignment on the psychological implications of HIV/AIDS counselling on health workers (specifically nursing sisters).
The situation in the community clinics at present is such that the sisters are under so much pressure to do pre- and post-test counselling, and the psychological implications are of the extent that many sisters resign or end up in psychiatric units.
Are you able to help with any information regarding the implications or the available support for HIV/AIDS counselors?
Thank you
Ms. J. Chouler

THE REWARDS OF SPEAKING OUT
August 23, 2001 From: "TONYE LANGENHOVEN"
Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 10:30:40 +0200

(Tonye posted her account of being raped on SpeakOut! a year ago, with her email and has since developed an enriching dialogue with rape survivors across Africa- SpeakOut!)

You asked me to write about the mail I have been receiving due to the SpeakOut! website. There has been a couple of mails from as far afield as Transkei, Lesotho, Grahamstown and Nigeria.
The mails have mostly been just to thank me for speaking out and good wishes. I have a wonderful email relationship with a young woman from Nigeria. We have been corresponding for the past three months. She was sexually abused as a child by one of the male servants and a few years ago was raped by a friend's boyfriend.

She has spoken to me about what she went through and after reading the articles on the website decided to go for counselling - she told me that it was quite a search to look for organisations in Nigeria who offer counselling to rape survivors. She has also signed up to volunteer for this organisation, but because of her work I do not think that she has had a chance to do anything yet.
She is a wonderful and beautiful young woman. I feel we have a special bond.
I will keep you updated on further responses.
Tonye

SHOULD I GIVE A RAPIST A CONDOM?
From: "Elize" Subject: Legal aspects of rape Date: Wed, 24 Oct 2001 10:13:11 +0200

Could someone please point me in the right direction. I'm seeking the relevant legislation/case law where "the victim hands the attacker/rapist a condom prior to penetration (i.e. convince the rapist to use a condom)" and the legal implications of this ... i.e. does this imply consent ?
Could you please assist me
Thank you

ANSWER FROM SpeakOut!
Of course it does not imply consent, however, this website is manned by rape survivors ... we think anyone who thinks a condom used by a rapist/s is reliable is nuts to put it mildly. There are no laws anywhere in the world about this - mainly because most legislators have done some homework, condoms are neither 100% reliable in pregnancy prevention nor HIV prevention. It is only foolish women's gossip that perpetuates this. Sorry but discussions along this line irritate us.
Condoms leak, break, and if anyone thinks a RAPIST is interested in the wellbeing of a woman ... well, why is he/they then raping?
If you get raped - and the perpetaror uses/ most often doesn't use / a condom - get the antiretrovirals within 72 hours, don't mess with your life.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO STOP RAPE?
From: GMillennium2@aol.com Subject: Marches and Demonstrations Date: Mon, 22 Oct 2001 05:05:26 EDT
I was watching a program last night and I saw the appalling statistics for rape and crime against woman in your society. I was surprised that yesterday was the first time that I had seen any kind of media coverage regarding this matter.
I am not sure what sort of organised demonstrations your society has taken in regard to getting this problem remedied. Assuming half your population are female then it is a problem that affects 1/4 of your population.
I realise since apartheid, your society has had several things to deal with, and maybe this has not always taken a front seat. It seems to me that the best way to get help with a problem is to shed as much light on a situation as possible, only then can you change peoples attitudes and perceptions. You were able to get some of your laws remedied that changed the way apartheid works, I am just wondering why it is taken so much longer to change laws that, help your woman to have treatment after being raped? (At the time of the program I saw yesterday, they were not giving anti-retroviral drugs to the woman.)

It also seems that with stats like I saw on the television, 1/2 women get raped. 75% are gang rapes, and 40% result in disease. Those are high stats. I am not sure why this in not covered in class rooms of all sorts, if this is the expectation for your woman, and again I am surprised that there is not a national day of protest, that draws attention to this subject matter. I think getting more outside attention, to a problem that is universal, would hopefully help your cause, and not hinder it.
Awareness and education, of your woman and your men, starting as early as possible, seems to be the only way you will change past attitudes of hatred -apartheid- but it also seems culturally, that violence for woman is an expectable risk, and just to be expected when living in your society. I am glad to see an organisation such as yours is doing something about it, but again I am not sure why there is not protest in the streets, from the families of these woman, from the men that care for the woman, from the woman, young and old, black and white?
I was also surprised that there is not more of a buddy system for women, and free defence training courses being offered, and assistance and guidance being sought from outside sources for advice on how to lower such a problem.
I am not sure what has been done in your society since the program that I saw aired, but it would be nice to think that this is getting the attention that it deserves and more is being done to help. I would love to know what further measures if any are being instituted and if there will be an attempt in future to draw more attention to the plight of these woman.
Please do give me an update, I would be very interested in following up on the subject.

SOUTH AFRICA'S BACKWARD RAPE LAWS
From: "r.o.n." Subject: Speak out (Legislation surrounding Rape Date: Wed, 16 May 2001 23:06:20 +0200

After having read the article on the new legislation, I was amazed to find that no mention of male or gay rape or female on male rape was mentioned. Myself and a friend are trying to, in collaboration with the Criminology and Law departments of our University, petition against what South African Law states at the moment regarding the "other" types of rape. Personally, I feel that gender doesn't matter when you are raped. You are a human being and that is where our legislation is wrong. Another problem is that our legislation does not focus on the rapists intent, but whether the victim gave consent or not. How the hell are you supposed to give consent when you are unconscious?????

I would very much appreciate a response as I would like to hear your views on the above.

We replied:
Thank you Dear ? (a name would be nice)
The new legislation is still backward, but what is more it was supposed to have been put before parliament in 1999, and still has not come forward. I think rape is an issue our government feels uncomfortable about acknowledging.
I am not sure what you mean by "other" rape. Is this, as an example, where existing laws make the outrageous statement about rape against "imbeciles"? Or its failure to recognise male rape? Or the use of objects or animals? There are a host of other failings.
We agree with your second statement that gender is irrelevant, so quite frankly it is meaningless to talk about gay rape, or female on male, male on female - rape is rape. We are also opposed to legislation here and elsewhere in the world that talks about rape using the penis as a deadly weapon. It conforms to pornographic paradigms. Most of those "deadly weapons" don't work properly, a very high number of rapists have erectile dysfunction so all this nonsense about full penetration is just that - nonsense. We support the British view that in the rape of a female the tip of the penis has to touch the tip of the labia for rape to occur. Same would go for anal penetration, or attempted penetration - it should not have to occur completely.
We also support Namibian legislation that makes forced genital stimulation (masturbation) rape - although this issue has been pointed out to our legislators at the SA Law Commission by me personally in workshops, we see nothing about it in legislation.
There is a considerable amount of rape in which objects are used, it is very common practice at present to insert a bottle into a woman and then break the bottle - there should be a separate category for this form of rape that is punished even more severely for such barbarity, because this is a deliberate attempt (always succesful) to mutilate, if not kill.
We would be interested in your views, your studies and petition.
Best wishes
Charlene Smith and the SpeakOut! team

I DIDN'T GET PEP AFTER RAPE, AM I AT RISK FOR HIV? From: L
Subject: Please REspond It's Important
Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 20:16:01 -0700 (PDT)
I was raped thursday night of last week. I went to the hospital and had the rape kit and got the morning after pill but i never heard of pep's until tonight on your site. the man who raped me was caught last night but i found out today that he has hiv. statistically what are my chances of contracting hiv? he didn't use a condom. he said he didn't ejactulate but i know that they found some semen on my clothes.
what is the window period for getting tested and how often should i do it. please respond asap. i am going insane and can't focus enough to find it on the internet.
thanks,
lucia

----- Original Message ----- From: Speak Out! Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 7:48 AM

Lucia where do you stay? He does not have to ejaculate for you to be at risk from HIV, but if there was semen on your clothes it means he ejaculated.
Lucia I regret but you are at risk of HIV, I need to know what area you are in so I can tell you which doctor or hospital to go too. It is too late for PEP, if you don't go onto it in 72 hours it does not work.
Do you have a medical aid? How old are you?
The window period is one year. HIV does not show itself before 6 to 12 weeks and sometimes as long as a year later. You need to go for tests at 6 weeks, 3 months, six months and one year - but first you need to go to someone absolutely reliable so they can counsel and help you - you have to let me have your details urgently - suburb and city you stay in and phone number.
I imagine if the hospital was so incompetent they did not test you for HIV on the night - did they? Go and get a test right now, it won't show if you got HIV from the rapist, all it will show is whether you are HIV+ or negative NOW - so that when the case comes to court if you do seroconvert the penalty against him will be worse assuming you are negative now.
How do you know he is HIV+? The police don't usually test the rapist. Who tested him and who told you? I need to know, and YOU need to know that your information is ABSOLUTELY RELIABLE otherwise you will be terrified for nothing. Don't listen to rumours. Tell the police you want him tested, if they say no - get the full name and rank of the cop, his phone number, the case number and tell me.
I need to know more about the detail of the rape because that can increase or decrease your risk eg how many times penetration, was it only vaginal or was it anal or oral too? What is your health like at present. Is he someone you know or was it a stranger?
Let me tell you this and listen VERY CAREFULLY. IF there is HIV in your body you help it move faster by panicking and being depressed. Your attitude and your spirit are the things that will help your body fight and you get through this mentally stronger.
You have to look after your body in the next year better than you have ever cared for it in your life. Start eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Stop eating junk food and fizzy drinks. Stop smoking if you smoke. Take less alcohol if you drink it. Start exercising - not excessively, but just to keep your body functioning well. Drink a glass of grapefruit juice every day, drink plenty of water.
SpeakOut!

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT PTSS? From: "SB"
Subject: More info on PTSS
Date: Sat, 20 May 1995 21:47:37 +0200
Hi there,
I have a friend who was in the Military for a long time and he has been told by a psychologist that he is suffering from PTSS. How do I go about helping >him overcome this? I think he might go and see someone if I could find the right person for him to see. Is there anyone who specializes in combat stress in Cape Town? If so, could you let me have their name and contactable number.
I would appreciate your help. With kind regards
SB ----- Original Message ----- From: Speak Out! Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2001 7:46 AM

Hi Sheena, please show him our postings on PTSS - there are 3 in all, so it will help him and you understand a little of what he is experiencing. The first step toward healing is acknowledging what is happening to him, when it happens and saying to himself, ok, I know what this is - and why - I can manage this, it is not me going crazy. And then he does his best to manage it. He has to get a grip on anger and temper tantrums though. There is a trauma clinic at Tygerberg hospital that specialises in PTSS. He does not need a "combat" psychologist, some of them are useless, he needs a psych who understands PTSS - which VERY FEW do. There is a new book out by Penguin called "Buried in the Sky" by Rick Andrew who served at the border in 1976 - he belongs to a support group in Durban, if he wants us to put him in touch with Rick, or alternatively to ask him the names/locations of other similar support groups of demobilised people then he/you should let us know.
But that might not be the route he wishes to follow... The best thing of all is to learn as much about it as possible - and to bear in mind it is a very new science, it was only recognised/acknowledged in the early 70s as Vietnam vets were returning from that war and it is a long way from being fully understood. Other good websites for more information is that run by the Centers for Disease Control (USA) www.cdc.gov and the World Health Organisation www.who.org
SpeakOut!

COMPULSORY HIV TESTING OF ALLEGED RAPISTS,
Q&A From: "Kathryn Goyer" Subject: Compulsory HIV Testing of Alleged Sex Offenders Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 08:52:53 +0200

Hello
I'm interested in finding out your organisation's position on proposed legislation to allow for compulsory HIV testing of alleged sex offenders. Do you think this will help or does it divert attention from what is really necessary - post exposure prophylaxis. I'm interested in hearing your opinion.
Best regards
KC Goyer
University of Natal, Durban

SpeakOut responds:

Compulsory testing is essential - and obviously it does not divert attention from PEP how could it?
Regardless of whether or not the perpetrator/s test positive or negative the rape survivor will have to go onto PEP because he/they may be in the window period.
The compulsory test goes to dealing with two issues (a) state of mind of the rape survivor, if she knows the perp/s are negative, she can feel a little less terrified, even though she knows she has to stay on prophylaxis and that they may be in window period.
(b) The dramatic increase in virgin rapes - (MInister of Safety and Security Steve) Tshwete told parliament 3 weeks ago that child rape had doubled in the last year and in our own research we are finding a dramatic increase in virgin rape across the country. This means that if the person is deliberately raping (see M&G of last Friday; and Sowetan front page of a month ago for just two examples) then the test of the alleged perp goes to intent and means an addition of either assault or attempted murder /culpable homicide to the charge sheet. This is ABSOLUTELY critical.
If as some say we wait until the perpetrator is convicted then given the delays in cases coming to trial and the high incidence of HIV in prisons, if the perp was not + at the time of incarceration, he most certainly probably will be after some months.
Hope this helps
Charlene Smith

IF YOU CAN HELP WITH MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE WRITER
From: "J B"
Subject: Project: linking rape and gangs in Cape Town
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2001 15:21:33 +0000
I am a student studying at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada, who is doing a project for her Gender and Development in Africa Class on the links between gangs and rape. In this paper I'd like to discuss how gangs (in Cape Town) construct their masculinity on the grounds of female subordination, rape as a gang activity, male socialization towards rape, general gang violence against women, and police responses to rape/ gang violence.

I was hoping Speak Out South Africa might have some information/ links to information that might help me with my research. I'm looking for: books, newspaper articles, journal articles, statistics etc.
I would appreciate any help/ ideas you could volunteer.
Jess Abramson

----- Original Message ----- From: Speak Out! Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2001 6:29 AM Subject: Re: Project: linking rape and gangs in Cape Town

Hello Jess,
If you do a search on our site you should be able to find some data www.speakout.org.za
Also contact Rape Crisis heideveld@rapecrisis.org.za
try Laurie Nathan at the Centre ofr the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
There is also a forensic pathologist at the University of Cape Town - Dr Lorna Martin who will be able to assist you (go into the UCT website for her email address)
Human Rights Watch has done considerable research too, into rape in SA

May we suggest however, that the way you have explained the basis of your research is looking at it from a very north American standpoint which may not tell you anything of why what happens here, happens. You cannot look at gang violence without the roots --- massive social and family dislocation; unbelievably high rates of crime in SA; massive failures in policing and the criminal investigation system; the fact that 75% of all rape in SA is gang rape - you are more likely to be raped by anything from 3 to 30 perpetrators than a single perpetrator; huge failures in parenting - mostly absent fathers, often very aggressive mothers ...

I don't think they construct their masculinity on the grounds of female subordination at all, those are old passe, northern hemisphere constructs. These are young people that have no prospect of work - ever - they live in areas of acute poverty, high alcoholism, high drug taking, acute violence - a young man aged between 16 and 29 is more likely to be shot dead in this country than die of any other cause but for AIDS (Medical Research Council, October 2000 - data on site), so faced with such desperation they are completely nihilistic. They don't care about themselves (and no-one else cares about them) and thus they don't give a damn about anyone or anything. In gang rape as Lorna will tell you - they are not getting off on raping the woman, they are getting off on watching each other... there is simply no other performance criteria in their lives than violence.
They hate themselves, they have no self esteem, and thus it is easier to hate and harm others.
Charlene Smith