{UAH} IDDI AMIN NEVER TARGETED LANGIs/ACHOLIs, THEY TARGETED HIM {---Series One-Hundred and ninety-one}

Friends

 

Study participants drew maps of their communities and discussed feelings of safety in various locations. Participants judged women most at risk in the town centers and places where people gather and drink, such as the video, movie, or dance hall. Men and women alike were concerned that girls might be raped or coerced into having sex in those venues considered especially risky because of widespread drinking. The borehole (water well), a place where girls and women visit daily, was also considered unsafe. The community was viewed as an environment which must be carefully negotiated in order to stay safe, especially by women, although men and boys also fear assault and fighting. Some blamed women for rape, such as this a newly married 16-year-old-girl: "Her movement in the night is the reason why men rape her because if she stayed home, slept and locked herself in the house, there wouldn't be any person who would come to rape her." On the other hand, some younger girls labeled their house on the map as an unsafe place "….because there is too much beating." This often occurs in households where girls are taken in by relatives or step-parents or in the case of girls who have gotten pregnant "from home" (before marriage).

 

Some of these studies just become too sad to read. Who lives this way? What home survives this way? What tribe treats its very own people this brutally? And watch the worst part,  this is not  a one home problem but an Acholi, as a tribe problem. It just astounds me when many in the forum stand up to claim that the series is generalizing all Acholi, friends Acholi are violent people. Rebecka Lundgren and Melissa K. Adams of Georgetown University Went to Uganda, and wrote a thesis about Acholi violence, under a heading  Safe Passages: Building on Cultural Traditions to Prevent Gender-Based Violence throughout the Life Course. We are posting from page 60

 

Ugandans we so need to discuss Acholi violence candidly.

 

 

Living in a violent world

 

The adolescents participating in this study view their world as a dangerous place with multiple forms of violence—verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual—surrounding them. The types of violence they describe fall on a continuum from insulting and belittling others through shouting, vulgar language, quarrelling, and slapping to fighting, poisoning/witchcraft, assault, beating to discipline or teach, coerced/forced sex and rape (See Figure 1). Of greatest concern to participants were rape, abuse of women and children, and fighting. Older adolescents were particularly concerned with fighting related to land disputes. Domestic violence, defined by participants as intimate partner violence and corporal punishment of children in the home, is considered the most common and concerning form of violence. Most often study participants discussed beating perpetrated by the husband, but cases of women hitting their husbands also surfaced. Domestic violence primarily occurs in the privacy of the home, although verbal abuse and fighting may occur at the market or in other public venues. Mention of fathers beating or yelling at their daughters for burning dinner or not properly completing chores was common. Forced sex within a relationship was also raised. A 39-year-old woman explained, "Most of the men like forcing women into sex without a consensus…Most men take it that he has married a woman so at the minute that he wants it, even if both of them are not prepared…

 

That is what I see happening and mostly we remain silent." Concern about rape was widespread among all ages and both sexes; many noted specific places girls should avoid and suggested that girls should not leave their homes after dark.

An excerpt from 17-year-old Sarah provides a glimpse into the way adolescents view the violence around them, as well as their hopes for a more peaceful future.

 

I experienced many hardships growing up. My mother died, and my father moved away when I was very young. I was left in the care of my stepmother who never gave me food, and insulted and abused me. In our village, we have many forms of violence: land wrangles, quarreling, domestic violence, abuse, rape, fighting. Instead of allowing these forms of violence to continue, we should actively fight to end it. We need to increase dialogue among married couples to reduce domestic violence, and to foster understanding between the couple. I hope to see our community evolve to a place where men and women do not fight and struggle to live together, but rather, live happily and take responsibility where it is needed.

 

Study participants drew maps of their communities and discussed feelings of safety in various locations. Participants judged women most at risk in the town centers and places where people gather and drink, such as the video, movie, or dance hall. Men and women alike were concerned that girls might be raped or coerced into having sex in those venues considered especially risky because of widespread drinking. The borehole (water well), a place where girls and women visit daily, was also considered unsafe. The community was viewed as an environment which must be carefully negotiated in order to stay safe, especially by women, although men and boys also fear assault and fighting. Some blamed women for rape, such as this a newly married 16-year-old-girl: "Her movement in the night is the reason why men rape her because if she stayed home, slept and locked herself in the house, there wouldn't be any person who would come to rape her." On the other hand, some younger girls labeled their house on the map as an unsafe place "….because there is too much beating." This often occurs in households where girls are taken in by relatives or step-parents or in the case of girls who have gotten pregnant "from home" (before marriage).

 

The (un)acceptability of violence

In Uganda as elsewhere, gender norms which give men dominance over women are closely related to GBV. Traditional Acholi gender norms assert a hegemonic masculinity which mandates power and control over women. Ideal men are strong and protect their wives and family; they plan, control resources, and make decisions for the benefit of the household. An ideal woman cares for and protects her children. According to tradition, a wife is always subservient to her husband even if he has done something wrong or has been unfaithful. These gender norms are widespread across sex, age, and life course. While these expectations are consistent across the life span, the youngest participants are most hopeful that they will be able to fulfill their gender roles. Newly married and young parents are less optimistic. Boys, in particular, shifted from concern about becoming an "ideal" man to feeling inadequate for not fulfilling normative expectations as they became husbands and fathers.

In order to explore the range of masculinities and femininities accepted in Acholi culture, participants were asked to choose a toy animal to represent an ideal man and an ideal woman.

The resulting discussions revealed how closely gender norms are related to violence, especially domestic violence, as in this quote from an 18-year-old new wife:

 

I have selected a cow for an ideal woman because a cow is used by human beings; it cannot do anything until its owner says so, just like a woman who waits for information from her husband. A cow is a hard working animal and when a task is given it carries it out, although it doesn't want to. In a home sometimes there is misunderstanding and just like a cow is beaten when it fails to do tasks so is a woman beaten by her husband…and also a cow gives birth and feeds its own on milk just like a woman does. She also takes good care of her children.

 

Deeply rooted in Acholi culture is the value of respect, which can both prevent and exacerbate violence. While men must respect and protect women, women must also respect their husbands. In fact, women beating their husbands was considered unacceptable because of the disrespect it shows men. Regardless of a man's conduct, hitting a man would shame and belittle him, and would "spoil" a woman's name.

Although violence is widespread in study communities, the only form of violence widely accepted is linked to gender norms—that is, beating wives or children in a controlled and "proper" manner to teach, discipline, or punish. According to study participants, the man holds the authority in the home, and it is his responsibility to correct his wife if she fails to complete a chore or shows him disrespect. Moreover, since he brought his wife into his home and clan, it is his right (and obligation) to correct her as needed. Discipline is required if a woman disobeys her husband or fails to fulfill gender role expectations, such as neglecting to cook the evening meal or showing disrespect. There was general agreement that some women do not listen to their husbands; even if such a woman is corrected several times, she will not understand until she is beaten.

Respondents explained that beating must be done "properly," which entails explaining to the person what he or she had done wrong, allowing them to admit their mistake, and asking them to lie down to receive their punishment (to reduce possible injury). The process is described below by an 18-year-old new wife:

 

Interviewer: Do you think it's acceptable for a man to beat his wife?

Participant: Yes, when he is beating you in a good way.

Interviewer: What could have happened for it to be seen that a person was beaten in a good way?

Participant: When you have admitted your mistake and he asks you to lie down and you do so and he beats you. It's better than beating you while you are standing.

Most men would agree with this young woman, a 27-year-old community leader explained,

 

A husband beating his wife because she has delayed to cook is acceptable. Even myself, I once slapped my wife so badly at one moment, because my wife eats and goes to sleep. For me, when I come back and find nothing for me to eat, I beat you. I was relieved because there was some improvement afterwards. The next day I came back and found food was there.

 

Beating children to punish, prevent bad behavior, or instruct is also widely accepted. Many believe that children, like women, who do not learn when corrected, must be beaten. This sentiment was expressed by a 43-year-old woman, "Beating a child is not something that violates the rights of a child, it is correct and helps their future." Many respondents believe that it is incumbent on parents and teachers to beat children to ensure that they complete their chores or obey their parents. Nevertheless, the prevailing view is that corporal punishment should only be used after alternative forms of discipline have been tried such as talking to the child about their behavior or asking a clan leader or family member to intervene. If a parent decides to beat the child, it must be done "properly" —in the same way women are beaten—asking the child to lie down, explaining why punishment is necessary, allowing the child to apologize, and then beating. Beating is not accepted if it is "excessive," or causes injury to a child, although the definition of what is considered excessive is unclear. In such cases, a community member or relative may intervene.

There are new laws in place to prevent parents and teachers from caning children as a form of discipline, or to teach a lesson. Perhaps as a result of these laws, norms are beginning to shift, and some respondents find caning excessively violent and unacceptable. In general, adults were more accepting of corporal punishment than children, although most adolescents thought that beating children was appropriate if it was done with the intention to teach. In fact, one child indicated that he felt he was being overbeaten when he was young, but now understands that he was being trained. Those who disagreed with corporal punishment stated that children are physically weaker than adults, and beating is never acceptable. A few commented that beating children is an abuse of their rights.

The life histories revealed that it is not uncommon for individuals to question traditional norms regarding violence and gender roles. Although beating is generally viewed as a suitable way to enforce social norms and roles, some clan leaders and elders do not condone this practice because it can lead to serious injury, death, or may be directed at someone who unknowingly made a mistake. Some men expressed opposition to beating women based on the view that strong relationships, built on male and female equality, are peaceful while violence fractures families. According to a newly married young 18 year-old,

 

We do not have any misunderstanding since she gives her views and I also give mine and we come up with an agreement… If one of us had denied the other's view, then there would have been a misunderstanding. To live a good life in a relationship, husbands and wives should be peaceful and not always have wrangles in their relationship and work together.

The excerpt below from the life history of Simon, a 39-year-old community leader, exemplifies central themes which emerged from the research, such as rejection of a range of violent acts and hopes for a more peaceful community.

 

Our community has been through a long period of violence that has drastically affected all of our lives. Many use the war as a reason to perpetuate violence; however, I believe that we must work together to come to agreements through avenues outside of violence. I believe that rape and the beating of children should never be accepted under any circumstance. Shouting at children is also unacceptable because it ruins their mindset and will not benefit the child. Rather than shouting, a parent should sit down with the child and speak to the child until there is a mutual understanding. Finally, I hope that parents will use the money they get from the harvest to fund their children's education; and that all families within our community can live together in peace.

These results reveal opportunities to build on attitudes which support gender equality and nonviolent conflict resolution. For example, very young adolescents viewed all forms of violence as wrong, regardless of the situation. These attitudes, however, evolve over the life course, with greater acceptance of GBV among newly married adolescents and young parents. This suggests that well-designed interventions could bring about changes in norms related to violence if they start early and include ongoing initiatives tailored to the life phase.

 

Exploring the roots of violence

Men and women of all ages consider alcohol a primary cause of violence, although other factors such as scarce resources, gender inequities, male sexual needs, and land disputes were also identified. Table 1 presents the causes and responses related to each type of violence mentioned by study participants. Examples of violence included husbands beating their wives if they do not prepare a meal on time or there is no food in the home; disagreements over how household resources are utilized; and infidelity (perceived or real).

Table 1: Perceptions of Types of Violence, Causes and Response Type of violence	Causes	Response
Interpersonal violence	- Authority of men - Alcohol - Scarcity of food - Arguments over resources - Women disobey/ need instruction	- Intervention by community leader or NGO workers - Treatment
Forced sex	- Lack of women's rights - Women viewed as husband's property - Uncontrollable male sexual urges	- Clan leaders mediate - Brothers punish boys
Fighting	- Land disputes - Being teased or ridiculed - Fighting over water	- Fight broken up - Police called - Sent to hospital if injuries
Rape	- Women/girls moving at night - Alcohol - Uncontrollable male sexual urges - Drug use	- Gossip about perpetrator and survivor - Pity for survivor - Vigilante justice - Police called - Hospital if injuries

Study participants noted the relationship between gender norms and violence, explaining that life in the camps shifted gender roles and expectations, leaving men feeling vulnerable and emasculated. Many reported that men started drinking after returning from the camps because of unemployment and frustration with their inability to support their family, which is requisite to being an "ideal" man.

Men became drunkards and the only thing they knew was to drink because they were too frustrated. In the camp, to tell you the truth, the most mistreated people by soldiers were men. If a solider wanted your wife, he could come and beat you. The rebels were also killing and mistreating men who they saw as spies for the government, and so men were frustrated. I see that men suffered most and they kept on drinking because of the problems that surrounded them. (28-year-old male)

Violence increases during periods of greater stress and alcohol consumption; it is highest in December and September during the Christmas holidays and Independence celebrations and during the harvest period when people struggle to feed their families.

 

The violence currently is fighting that men like exercising on women and children. Women and children are the ones who suffer. It happens because men are the heads of the family and therefore have authority. Some men are generally tough whenever they drink alcohol. Others are naturally tough even without the influence of alcohol. Violence is most frequent during the harvest season because the men usually want all the money for drinking alcohol and buying roasted meat. (42-year-old female)

 

Another type of violence, land wrangles, disproportionately affects women, especially older women. Disputes over land are very prevalent because families returned to their villages from the camps with little knowledge of legal property lines. Such disagreements sometimes occur when the patriarch of the family passes away without demarcating clear boundaries, making it difficult to determine legal ownership. Women often lose the rights to their land, depriving them of their livelihood.

 

Men and women believe that life in the camps brought increased violence, particularly sexual violence. Some of this was attributed to camp life which created a situation where young people passed their days with nothing to occupy themselves. After returning from the camps, many adolescents were no longer in school, as they had dropped out or could no longer afford school fees, and spent much of their time in the center of town. With little to occupy their time, respondents suggested that young people became involved in drinking, theft, rape, and fighting.

 

 

Stay in the forum for Series One hundred and ninety-two on the way   ------>

EM

On the 49^th Parallel          

                 Thé Mulindwas Communication Group
"With Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja and Dr. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda is in anarchy"
                    Kuungana Mulindwa Mawasiliano Kikundi
"Pamoja na Yoweri Museveni, Ssabassajja na Dk. Kiiza Besigye, Uganda ni katika machafuko"