The prevalence of women sexual locking in a gender violence context - a pastoral perspective

Abstract

Marriage is highly regarded in Africa. Many taboos and rituals were put in place to ensure that marriage endures for as long as the couple lives. Any attack on marriage was rendered as a great enemy that deserved to be arrested and destroyed. In order to curb extra-marital relationships that were a threat to marriage, some African communities applied sexual locking. Although it had been observed that cases of ‘stealing each other’s wives’ existed, these were not expected traditions among Africans. Some prefer this practice in order to eliminate treachery and fornication, but the experience thereof is humiliating to the couple, the family, and the community. The unliberated areas of African women’s lives are evident through their being locked sexually. This article aims to research and argue the downside of this unusual practice, which is growing among South African communities.