A call to protect women’s dignity, rights

SEXUAL CORRUPTION

- PROFESSOR SOPE WILLIAMS.

AS WE mark another Women’s Day today, we must shift our attention to one unspoken challenge that affects women in South Africa — sexual corruption.

Sexual corruption happens when women and girls are requested to perform sexual acts in exchange for access to public (and private) services or privileges.

It is the abuse of actual or perceived power that sexually exploits those who seek benefits or seek to avoid deprivations tied to that power.

The sexual exploitation may be physical, emotional or digital.

It takes various forms, such as coercion, exploitation and the abuse of power to obtain sexual favours.

Manipulation:

South Africa has a problem with corruption, as well as sexual and gender-based violence.

Sexual corruption lies at the intersection of these ills and is reinforced by patriarchy, the normalisation of transactional relationships, victim blaming and the silence and shame surrounding sexual violence.