Mobilizing Mass Protests against Sexual Violence in India and South Africa

• In Event: Comparative Perspectives on Intimate Violence and Gendered Peace

Abstract

Under what conditions do mass protests against sexual violence emerge? Why do some cases of sexual violence galvanize citizens to take to the streets while other equally egregious incidents do not? Drawing on a rare cross-regional comparison of lethal rapes in India and South Africa, including interviews with activists, journalists, academics, and lawyers in both countries, this paper develops a three-pronged conjunctural model about anti-rape protests. First, it shows that in cases where women are deemed worthy of public empathy—either because they occupy, or are imagined to hail from, privileged social locations—journalists and activists’ efforts to shine a light on rape generate rapid mass protests. Second, I find that under certain conditions, contingent developments result in activist, reporter, and ultimately broader public attention to center around instances of sexual violence in which women from marginalized, rather than privileged, communities are victimized. In these cases, delayed mass protests or relatively localized protests emerge in the aftermath of rape. Finally, where neither of these conditions are met, a lack of collective action against rape is observed. Collectively, these findings not only enrich our understanding about how different actors can contribute to demonstrations against sexual violence, but they also help to underscore the importance of social location in enabling such collective action.

Author

• Aditi Malik, College of the Holy Cross