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South African rape survey shock South African rape survey shock
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One in four men in South Africa said they had raped someone - with most of those admitting they had attacked more than one victim, a survey has found.One in four men in South Africa said they had raped someone - with most of those admitting they had attacked more than one victim, a survey has found.
The study, conducted by the country's Medical Research Council, also found three out of four men attacked their first victim while in their teens.The study, conducted by the country's Medical Research Council, also found three out of four men attacked their first victim while in their teens.
It also said practices such as gang rape were common because they were considered a form of male bonding. It said practices such as gang rape were common because they were considered a form of male bonding.
The MRC spoke to 1,738 men in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.The MRC spoke to 1,738 men in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces.
The study found that 73% of men said they had carried out their first assault before the age of 20.The study found that 73% of men said they had carried out their first assault before the age of 20.
Almost half who said they had carried out a rape admitted they had done so more than once.Almost half who said they had carried out a rape admitted they had done so more than once.
It's partly rooted in our incredibly disturbed past and the way that South African men over the centuries have been socialised Professor Rachel JewkesCo-ordinator of the study Tackling South Africa's rape cultureIt's partly rooted in our incredibly disturbed past and the way that South African men over the centuries have been socialised Professor Rachel JewkesCo-ordinator of the study Tackling South Africa's rape culture
One in 20 men said they had raped a woman or girl in the last year.One in 20 men said they had raped a woman or girl in the last year.
Professor Rachel Jewkes of the MRC, who carried out the research, told the BBC's World Today programme the findings were "very shocking".Professor Rachel Jewkes of the MRC, who carried out the research, told the BBC's World Today programme the findings were "very shocking".
"The absolute imperative is we have to change the underlying social attitudes that in a way have created a norm that coercing women into sex is on some level acceptable," she said."The absolute imperative is we have to change the underlying social attitudes that in a way have created a norm that coercing women into sex is on some level acceptable," she said.
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World ServiceFROM BBC WORLD SERVICE More from BBC World Service
"We know that we have a higher prevalence of rape in South Africa than there is in other countries."We know that we have a higher prevalence of rape in South Africa than there is in other countries.
"And it's partly rooted in our incredibly disturbed past and the way that South African men over the centuries have been socialised into forms of masculinity that are predicated on the idea of being strong and tough and the use of force to assert dominance and control over women, as well as other men.""And it's partly rooted in our incredibly disturbed past and the way that South African men over the centuries have been socialised into forms of masculinity that are predicated on the idea of being strong and tough and the use of force to assert dominance and control over women, as well as other men."
She said all the victims in the main survey were women, but the participants were also interviewed about male rape.She said all the victims in the main survey were women, but the participants were also interviewed about male rape.
The survey found that one in ten men said they had been coerced into sex by other men. The survey found that one in 10 men said they had been raped by other men.
Three percent of the men interviewed said they had coerced a man or a boy into sex.Three percent of the men interviewed said they had coerced a man or a boy into sex.
South Africa's government has been repeatedly criticised for failing to address the country's rape epidemic.South Africa's government has been repeatedly criticised for failing to address the country's rape epidemic.
Before his election as South Africa's president, self-proclaimed polygamist Jacob Zuma stood trial for the rape of a HIV-positive family friend. He was acquitted.Before his election as South Africa's president, self-proclaimed polygamist Jacob Zuma stood trial for the rape of a HIV-positive family friend. He was acquitted.