I don’t want to be a victim anymore-I’m a survivor

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This story is about a gender based violence survivor who has refused to let the abuse she has suffered bring her down. She says she is not a victim but a survivor, that she has taken control of her life and is now in the frontline of the fight against abuse. Keketso Madyibi shared her story with The Star during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign in Ekurhuleni, South Africa.

This article may be used to:

1) Encourage other survivors of gender based violence that there is life after abuse.

2) Show how media can positively portray survivors of violence and deviate from the traditional stereotype of portraying them as victims with no agency.

3) Illustrate the point that giving survivors the opportunity to speak about their experiences often leads to healing.

4) To showcase best practices in reporting gender violence stories.

5) Show that men can also engage in the fight against abuse.

Trainer’s notes

This article has a powerful headline which encourages thousands of abused women to take control of their lives, do something about their situation and refuse to see themselves as victims. The story is told from the point of view of a survivor of gender violence who has moved on with her life and sees herself as a survivor, not a victim. The word survivor encourages other sufferers of abuse that they can survive it and foster a new life for themselves. It emphasises the point that there is life beyond abuse. Most media have used the term ‘victim’ to refer to sufferers of gender violence. This in itself renders abused people helpless and at the mercy of men, who are the majority of perpetrators. In this case Madyibi is portrayed as a survivor who has broken the chain of abuse.

This article takes the issue of gender violence seriously because it gives this survivor ample space to speak about her experiences. Often media make the mistake of having other people talk on a survivor’s behalf without necessarily understanding what that person is going through. The fact that Madyibi made a decision to leave her abusive marriage after twelve years highlights the fact that it is never too late to change your situation.

The sourcing in this story is balanced in that men who took part in the march are sourced for comment. This makes gender violence an issue that men can also participate in together with women. Issues around campaigning for no violence against women and children are often seen as women’s business. This article dispels this notion by showing that there are men who are equally concerned about the plight of women and children. This article takes a holistic look at the problem of gender violence as it highlights the fact that ‘abuse continues because the criminal justice system is failing people.’

Discussion questions:

1) In your view who are the main perpetrators and sufferers of gender related abuse?

2) How is the justice system in South Africa treating abuse-related issues?

3) In your opinion can one really survive abuse or is it something that haunts a person for life?

4) What does this article say about relations between women and men in South Africa?

5) How else could this story have been told?

6) What role can media play in fighting abuse?

Training Exercises:

1) Compare and contrast this article with “Nightmare of a rape victim”, Sowetan, 20 November 2007. What are the underlying messages in both? What could the author of “Nightmare” have done to change the tone and underlying message of that article?

2) Based on the differences between the two articles, or between this article and the types of articles we usually read about gender-based violence and rape, draw up a checklist that journalists writing on these issues could use to ensure balanced and positive reporting.

Other training resources

Gender in media training: A Southern African toolkit. http://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=171

Related GL Commentaries

"I Story" Series 2007

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