How violence against women and children is represented in research

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) analyzes how violence against women and children (VAWC) in South Africa is represented across 57 research papers. Using a feminist 'What is the Problem Represented to Be?' (WPR) approach, the study examines the terminology, framing, and demographic focus of existing research to identify how these representations influence policy and practice.

• Research on violence against women and children in South Africa is characterized by a proliferation of interchangeable terms, such as 'intimate partner violence', 'domestic violence', and 'gender-based violence', which are often used without clear definitions. This lack of terminological consistency can alienate policy makers and practitioners, hindering a common understanding of the problem.
• Existing research predominantly focuses on physical violence and individual or relational risk factors, while neglecting the structural drivers of violence. There is limited analysis of how physical violence intersects with structural violence, racism, trauma, and the effects of extractive and racialised capitalism.
• Research is heavily skewed toward poor black communities in rural areas and townships, which risks racialising the understanding of violence. This focus may create a perception that these communities are inherently more violent, reinforcing racial and class prejudices and justifying police violence in black neighbourhoods.
• There is a significant disparity between the subjects of research and the researchers themselves. While black communities are the primary focus of study, black researchers and those from previously disadvantaged institutions—such as the Universities of Fort Hare, Venda, and Limpopo—are underrepresented, particularly as principal investigators.
• The framing of VAWC often treats women and children as lacking agency, with research papers rarely indicating the extent to which beneficiaries participated in designing the solutions being tested. Furthermore, researchers frequently adopt international frameworks from bodies like the WHO and UNICEF without critical engagement regarding their suitability for the South African context.
• Research collaborations and funding are heavily influenced by the Global North. Of the 55 funders identified in the analyzed papers, 37 were based in the US or UK, and there was more collaboration between South African researchers and those in the US and UK than with other developing countries.

APA

Amisi, M. M., Vanyoro, K., Archibald, T., Gould, C., & Mulondo, M. (2021). How violence against women and children is represented in research. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb157-1.pdf

Chicago

Amisi, Matodzi M, Kudakwashe Vanyoro, Thomas Archibald, Chandré Gould, and Muofhe Mulondo. How violence against women and children is represented in research. Institute for Security Studies, 2021. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb157-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{amisi2021how, author = {Amisi, Matodzi M and Vanyoro, Kudakwashe and Archibald, Thomas and Gould, Chandré and Mulondo, Muofhe}, title = {{How violence against women and children is represented in research}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2021}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/pb157-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }