Browsing by Author "Van der Westhuizen, Renate"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Rape as Torture : re-reading the rape of the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-02-18) Van der Westhuizen, Renate; Claasens, L. Juliana; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Rape has become a way of life in South Africa. From narratives lived and shared, we know how pervasive violence against women is, to such a degree that some refer to it as a gender civil war in South Africa. The reality is that South African women have a greater chance of being raped than graduating from High School. Every day we read about the rape of yet another woman, child or baby. Their used and abused bodies are found in public toilets, construction sites or left out in the veld. Some live to tell the tales of horror, other’s bodies are raped beyond recognition. Those women, who are not yet raped, live in fear of the threat of rape, because the threat of rape is an efficient reminder that women are not safe and their bodies not theirs. This study will explore recent theories that understand rape in terms of torture as a hermeneutical framework for reading the rape narrative portrayed in Judges 19-21. In the first instance, this thesis will outline recent theories that understand rape in terms of torture. In Chapter 2 it will be shown that it is particular important to demonstrate the significance of classifying rape as torture. In the second instance I will re-read Judges 19-21 through the theoretical lens of rape as torture. As an Old Testament Feminist scholar, I argue that it is important to have a good understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of rape that one then utilize when reading the biblical stories that deal with rape. I propose that we must go back to the biblical text and apply rape as torture to the ancient stories. Building upon and in conversation with these readings of Judges 19-21, I propose that new perspectives on the narrative in Judges 19-21 are revealed when one reads and analyses the narrative through the theoretical lens of Rape as Torture. In this regard, I will employ the theoretical framework identified in the second chapter of this thesis that builds on theoretical perspectives regarding rape of Catharine MacKinnon, Elaine Scarry and within a South African context, Louise du Toit, as a way to reread the narrative of Judges 19-21. Finally, I will demonstrate in this thesis how a biblical text such as Judges 19 can serve as a conscientization tool regarding the reality and the effect of rape in our society. As a religious studies educator working in a school context, I believe that biblical literature can serve as an important pedagogical tool that strengthens our ability to confront sexual violence. Therefore this thesis is developed not only for the victims of sexual violence, but also with the purpose of playing some role in changing the way young people and society view rape.