One in 4 South African Men Admit to Rape

Many repeat offenders; three quarters make first attack as teens

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 18, 2009 8:35 AM CDT

(Newser) – One in four men in South Africa admitted to rape in an anonymous study, and many say they’ve attacked multiple times, the Guardian reports. Three-quarters of rapists first did so as teenagers and half are repeat offenders; 5% of the men surveyed said they’d raped a woman or girl in the past year, the study by South Africa’s Medical Research Council found.

“We have a very, very high prevalence of rape in South Africa,” said a researcher. “I think it is down to ideas about masculinity based on gender hierarchy and the sexual entitlement of men. It's rooted in an African ideal of manhood.” Only 7% of reported rapes in the country result in conviction; the criminal justice system is “woeful,” she noted.

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One in four men in South Africa say they've committed rape. (Shutterstock)

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We need our government to show political leadership in changing attitudes. We need South African men, from the top to the grassroots, to take responsibility. - Rachel Jewkes, researcher

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One in 4 South African Men Admit to Rape