HRCMY81
Assignment 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: May 2026
AN EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE
1. INTRODUCTION
Gender-based violence is one of the most serious social problems affecting South Africa
today. It affects women, children, men, families, and communities across different social and
economic backgrounds. Gender-based violence includes physical abuse, sexual violence,
emotional abuse, economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, and controlling behaviour
directed at individuals because of their gender (Diko, 2023). South Africa continues to
experience high levels of domestic violence, rape, femicide, and sexual offences despite the
existence of laws and government policies aimed at protecting victims and preventing
violence (Republic of South Africa, 2020). Incidents of gender-based violence have created
fear, trauma, poor mental health, family breakdown, and economic difficulties for many
people in the country (Mphatheni, 2024).
Public attitudes and perceptions play an important role in either challenging or normalising
gender-based violence within society (Ike, 2025). Some members of the public strongly
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
AN EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE
1. INTRODUCTION
Gender-based violence is one of the most serious social problems affecting South
Africa today. It affects women, children, men, families, and communities across
different social and economic backgrounds. Gender-based violence includes
physical abuse, sexual violence, emotional abuse, economic abuse, intimidation,
harassment, and controlling behaviour directed at individuals because of their
gender (Diko, 2023). South Africa continues to experience high levels of domestic
violence, rape, femicide, and sexual offences despite the existence of laws and
government policies aimed at protecting victims and preventing violence (Republic of
South Africa, 2020). Incidents of gender-based violence have created fear, trauma,
poor mental health, family breakdown, and economic difficulties for many people in
the country (Mphatheni, 2024).
Public attitudes and perceptions play an important role in either challenging or
normalising gender-based violence within society (Ike, 2025). Some members of the
public strongly condemn gender-based violence, while others continue to justify
abusive behaviour because of cultural beliefs, gender stereotypes, or social norms
(Perrin et al., 2019). Understanding public views is important because these
perceptions influence reporting behaviour, support for victims, community responses,
and prevention efforts.
This research proposal explores public views on the impact of gender-based
violence in South Africa. The proposal discusses the definition of key concepts,
reviews existing literature, presents the research problem, outlines the research
objectives, and explains the proposed research methodology, sampling process,
data collection methods, ethical considerations, and data analysis procedures that
will guide the study.
2. DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS
2.1. Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence refers to harmful acts directed at individuals because of their
gender, gender identity, or social position within society (Diko, 2023). It includes
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, financial
abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking, coercion, and controlling behaviour that
causes harm or suffering to victims (Republic of South Africa, 2020). Gender-based
violence mostly affects women and girls because of unequal power relations
between men and women in many societies (Ampofo & Boateng, 2017).
In the South African context, gender-based violence includes domestic violence,
rape, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, femicide, and
online abuse directed at women and vulnerable groups (Mkwananzi et al., 2024).
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 protects the rights to dignity,
equality, freedom, and security of all people, while laws such as the Domestic
Violence Act 116 of 1998 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act 13 of 2021 provide legal protection for victims of abuse.
Gender-based violence has serious social, emotional, physical, and economic
effects on individuals, families, and communities (Mabasa et al., 2025). Public
understanding and perceptions of gender-based violence influence how communities
respond to victims, offenders, and prevention programmes aimed at reducing
violence in society (Ike, 2025).
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 Introduction
Gender-based violence remains one of the most serious human rights and social
justice challenges in South Africa. It affects people across different races, ages,
social classes, and geographical areas. Women and girls remain the most affected
victims because of unequal gender relations, patriarchy, discrimination, and social
attitudes that support male dominance in society (Diko, 2023). South Africa
continues to record high levels of rape, domestic violence, femicide, emotional
abuse, and sexual harassment despite the existence of laws and intervention
programmes aimed at addressing these problems (Republic of South Africa, 2020).
Public perceptions and attitudes towards gender-based violence influence how
communities respond to victims and offenders. Some members of society support
victims and condemn violence, while others continue to blame victims or normalise
abuse through cultural beliefs and harmful social norms (Ike, 2025). Understanding
Assignment 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: May 2026
AN EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE
1. INTRODUCTION
Gender-based violence is one of the most serious social problems affecting South Africa
today. It affects women, children, men, families, and communities across different social and
economic backgrounds. Gender-based violence includes physical abuse, sexual violence,
emotional abuse, economic abuse, intimidation, harassment, and controlling behaviour
directed at individuals because of their gender (Diko, 2023). South Africa continues to
experience high levels of domestic violence, rape, femicide, and sexual offences despite the
existence of laws and government policies aimed at protecting victims and preventing
violence (Republic of South Africa, 2020). Incidents of gender-based violence have created
fear, trauma, poor mental health, family breakdown, and economic difficulties for many
people in the country (Mphatheni, 2024).
Public attitudes and perceptions play an important role in either challenging or normalising
gender-based violence within society (Ike, 2025). Some members of the public strongly
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
AN EXPLORATION OF PUBLIC VIEWS ON THE IMPACT OF GENDER-BASED
VIOLENCE
1. INTRODUCTION
Gender-based violence is one of the most serious social problems affecting South
Africa today. It affects women, children, men, families, and communities across
different social and economic backgrounds. Gender-based violence includes
physical abuse, sexual violence, emotional abuse, economic abuse, intimidation,
harassment, and controlling behaviour directed at individuals because of their
gender (Diko, 2023). South Africa continues to experience high levels of domestic
violence, rape, femicide, and sexual offences despite the existence of laws and
government policies aimed at protecting victims and preventing violence (Republic of
South Africa, 2020). Incidents of gender-based violence have created fear, trauma,
poor mental health, family breakdown, and economic difficulties for many people in
the country (Mphatheni, 2024).
Public attitudes and perceptions play an important role in either challenging or
normalising gender-based violence within society (Ike, 2025). Some members of the
public strongly condemn gender-based violence, while others continue to justify
abusive behaviour because of cultural beliefs, gender stereotypes, or social norms
(Perrin et al., 2019). Understanding public views is important because these
perceptions influence reporting behaviour, support for victims, community responses,
and prevention efforts.
This research proposal explores public views on the impact of gender-based
violence in South Africa. The proposal discusses the definition of key concepts,
reviews existing literature, presents the research problem, outlines the research
objectives, and explains the proposed research methodology, sampling process,
data collection methods, ethical considerations, and data analysis procedures that
will guide the study.
2. DEFINITION OF KEY CONCEPTS
2.1. Gender-Based Violence
Gender-based violence refers to harmful acts directed at individuals because of their
gender, gender identity, or social position within society (Diko, 2023). It includes
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
physical violence, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, psychological abuse, financial
abuse, intimidation, harassment, stalking, coercion, and controlling behaviour that
causes harm or suffering to victims (Republic of South Africa, 2020). Gender-based
violence mostly affects women and girls because of unequal power relations
between men and women in many societies (Ampofo & Boateng, 2017).
In the South African context, gender-based violence includes domestic violence,
rape, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, femicide, and
online abuse directed at women and vulnerable groups (Mkwananzi et al., 2024).
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 protects the rights to dignity,
equality, freedom, and security of all people, while laws such as the Domestic
Violence Act 116 of 1998 and the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related
Matters) Amendment Act 13 of 2021 provide legal protection for victims of abuse.
Gender-based violence has serious social, emotional, physical, and economic
effects on individuals, families, and communities (Mabasa et al., 2025). Public
understanding and perceptions of gender-based violence influence how communities
respond to victims, offenders, and prevention programmes aimed at reducing
violence in society (Ike, 2025).
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
3.1 Introduction
Gender-based violence remains one of the most serious human rights and social
justice challenges in South Africa. It affects people across different races, ages,
social classes, and geographical areas. Women and girls remain the most affected
victims because of unequal gender relations, patriarchy, discrimination, and social
attitudes that support male dominance in society (Diko, 2023). South Africa
continues to record high levels of rape, domestic violence, femicide, emotional
abuse, and sexual harassment despite the existence of laws and intervention
programmes aimed at addressing these problems (Republic of South Africa, 2020).
Public perceptions and attitudes towards gender-based violence influence how
communities respond to victims and offenders. Some members of society support
victims and condemn violence, while others continue to blame victims or normalise
abuse through cultural beliefs and harmful social norms (Ike, 2025). Understanding
