Dynamics of Gendered Violence and Implications for Human Security in Africa - Research

This paper analyses the psycho-social effects of colonialism which inculcated self-hate and mental oppression in Africa. The paper argues that it is due to the history of colonial rule which subjected the oppressed and exploited to inhumanity and self-hate; that there is a culture of violence and lack of respect to human life in the continent. This is witnessed by the way in which crime has turned so violent. The paper further implores us to re-look at the ideologization of Blackness and Whiteness in the context of Steven Bantu Biko and Franz Fanon in order to locate the root causes and effects of mental oppression and the feelings of inferiority complexes exhibited by the subaltern (in the Gramscian sense of the word). The paper argues that it is this feeling of inferiority that propels the denigrated and subjugated masses to violate laws with impunity, such that they are not afraid to commit heinous crimes and gender-based violence, murder and rape on their unsuspecting victims without remorse. The paper utilized a content analysis method as an approach to seek valid contributions in literature, to the understanding of gender-based violence and rampant crime in Africa.