The COVID-19 pandemic and gender-based violence in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Pandemics have a propensity of exacerbating the already entrenched gender injustices, whilst increasing the intensity of gender-based violence. The spiral rise of gender-based violence cases during the era of COVID-19 across the globe, especially in Southern Africa, shows the gap between theoretical assumptions, practice, and the failure to learn from previous pandemics such as HIV and AIDS. Society plays a pivotal role in shaping and empowering women to respond to crises, including their response to the outbreak of pandemics. Our chapter discusses the phenomenal increase of gender-based violence cases during the era of COVID-19 in Zimbabwe. Qualitative data were gathered through document analysis. The chapter recommends using Elisabeth Olivius’ basic needs, instrumental and developmental approaches to gender as a framework for fresh thinking about infusing behavioural change towards gender-based violence. The chapter concludes by restating the fact that although there has been considerable progress made in terms of activism against gender-based violence, the emergence and negative impact of COVID-19 have challenged this position, showing that people have not changed at the anticipated pace.

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003494546-2

Repository URI

https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/356436/