Rape culture : perceptions of third and fourth year students at a South African Universities

Abstract

Many Higher Learning Institutions (HLI’s) in South Africa are plagued by alleged rape culture and reports of sexual assault. This study investigated the perceptions of third and fourth year students at a South African university regarding rape culture, with specific attention to how social norms shape these perceptions. Despite increasing awareness of gender-based violence, rape culture remains pervasive in higher learning education settings, often masked by silence, normalized behaviors, and institutional inaction. Guided by the Feminist Framework Plus (FFP) theoretical framework, this research sought to uncover how students interpret, experience, and respond to rape supportive norms within their academic and social environments. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of senior undergraduate students. Using Braun and Clarke’s (2021) Thematic Content Analysis (TCA) model, ten core themes emerged: (1) Contributing factors to rape culture and sexual violence; (2) The role of alcohol in sexual assault and the perpetuation of rape culture; (3) The Murky Waters of Consent; (4) Rape myths; (5) The Role of Culture; (6) Power and patriarchy; (7) Helplessness, hopelessness, and anger; (8) Sexual and overall objectification of women; (9) Treatment of victims/rape survivors; (10) Knowledge of sexual assault. The findings revealed notable gender-based differences. Female participants generally expressed a deeper awareness of rape culture and shared personal or peer-based experiences of coercion, secondary victimization, and institutional dismissal. Female participants described feeling unsafe on campus and emphasized the role societal conditioning in discouraging disclosure. In contrast, male participants often demonstrated limited engagement with the concept of rape culture, with several framing sexual assault as a result of “misunderstandings” or alcohol use. Some male students downplayed the prevalence of sexual violence, while others cited fear of false accusations, revealing the influence of defensive masculinity and misinformation. The study underscores the urgent need for institutional reform, including survivor-centered reporting structures and campus-wide consent education. These findings contribute to literature on campus rape culture in South Africa and highlight the importance of transforming not only policy but also peer-level and institutional norms to support survivor.