Newspaper Must Take A Stand
JUST when we thought victim-blaming could not get any worse, aspiring young writer Natasha Domingo went and did the unspeakable!
The youth section of The Namibian of January 15 2013 – apparently in an attempt to be ‘balanced’ or ‘unbiased,’ – published two articles written by young people on issues pertaining to violence against women. Natasha Domingo’s article states that: “I hold both men and women responsible for this behaviour (“passion” killings). But [sic] mostly, I blame women, or rather girls, since it is them that [sic] are the victims of passion killings.” She then launches into reasons why this is her position.
While one might have some “understanding” for the fact that she is still young – to be so patronising – there can be absolutely no understanding for victim blaming.
Sister Namibia unequivocally and categorically condemns prevailing attitudes like Natasha’s, that make the victim responsible or blameworthy for someone else’s crime. This amounts to hate speech and should be strongly denounced no matter who utters it. Also the fact that the newspaper published this opinion without taking a clear position amounts to editorial indifference, possibly cowardice, and makes their attempt to appear ‘balanced’ or ‘unbiased’ by providing space on the same page for a more sympathetic view, laughable.
It makes us wonder whether this newspaper will remain equally willing to uncritically publish the views of a racist fascist about why one might understand the reasons for the killing of Jews, communists and gay people during the Nazi reign, or for why crimes were committed against black and brown people during Apartheid, without taking a moral stance with regard such positions.
To all women (including the young Natasha) in Namibia – a country where women are raped and brutalised because they might have been at the wrong place at the wrong time, because they might have worn provocative clothing, because they might have talked back to their husband/ boyfriends, or because they might have accepted a drink or a gift from a man – understand this: as long as we are blaming the victim, you potentially could be blamed, should you be raped or killed – for whatever reason.
Attitudes like the one expressed by the Youth Paper create understanding for women abuse and killing within a wide range of structural crimes and violence committed against women and girls. In fact, the article’s reasons for blaming women for the unabated femicide in Namibia, dangerously echoes “reasons” or justification for the stoning of women under Sharia law in some parts of the world. Is this what we want for Namibia?
Let it be clear: women are not guilty or responsible for violence committed by men on our body, mind, and spirit. This violence happens because of men’s greater power and their misuse of that power.
Laura Sasman
Director, Sister Namibia
Windhoek