We Love Our Children – That is Why We Go to Work

Abstract

The herstory of Black women in South Africa is one of sexualised forms of political, physical and psychological violence. A herstory of violence, oppression, exploitation, victimisation, imprisonment and police brutality. The apartheid government used violence to control women, their bodies, their religious and spiritual experiences. The feeling of disregard for African women is echoed in an interview with Mhlophe, a South African author, playwright and actress, when she talks about the Battle of Blood River and emphasises how there is no mention of women. ‘Did those men have no sisters, no mothers who helped them? Our history is very unbalanced’ (August, 1990, p. 332).

Citation

Orton, B. (2023), "We Love Our Children – That is Why We Go to Work", Orton, B. (Ed.) Gendered Perspectives of Restorative Justice, Violence and Resilience: An International Framework (Diverse Perspectives on Creating a Fairer Society), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80382-383-620231010