Introduction:
Eudy Simelane ought to have been remembered for her on-field accomplishments and bravery as an LGBTQ+ activist. Instead, her name is associated with one of the most brutal hate crimes in South African history. In 2008, Eudy Simelane, a lesbian, was gang-raped and stabbed to death. Her naked body was dumped in a stream in the Kwa Thema township outside Johannesburg. A soccer player training to be a referee for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, she was targeted because of her sexual orientation.[1] Her life was shortened due to a heinous act of Corrective Rape which is a custom that not just harms bodies but seeks to eradicate identities.
Corrective rape is a form of rape perpetrated against someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. It is intended to force the victim to conform to heterosexuality or normative gender identity.[2] It is also sometimes called Curative Rape or Curative Therapy, a disturbing label that inappropriately casts this violence as an attempt at the treatment of non-heteronormative identities (gender identities that differ from being straight and cisgender) instead of what it is: A Hate Crime! Simply put, corrective rape occurs when a person is raped due to who they are, such as lesbian, gay or transgender. The perpetrator mistakenly thinks raping the individual will “cure” or “change” who they are. So that they will become straight or conform to traditional gender roles. It is a sadistic and violent effort to erase a person’s real self.
Cause behind Corrective Rape:
Understanding the root causes behind the corrective rape is essential to address and dismantle the environment in which such hate crimes thrive!
- Misogyny and Patriarchy- Corrective rape has its roots in misogyny and patriarchal power. “The practice is often tied to a broader culture of patriarchy and control over female sexuality.”[3] Women who present as lesbian or refuse traditional gender roles are frequently seen as threatening patriarchal norms and are attacked violently as a means of reasserting control. This type of sexual violence is not merely a matter of attacking sexual orientation but also of punishing women for venturing beyond the lines of what has traditionally been demanded of them.
- Lack of Legal Recognition- Among the key determinants of the perpetuation of corrective rape is the inability of the legal systems to acknowledge and adequately respond to it. “The failure of authorities to prosecute offenders and protect LGBTQ+ individuals contributes to the persistence of the crime.”[4] In the Indian context, although homosexuality was decriminalised in 2018 through the reading down of Section 377 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code), there are no specific legal provisions yet that criminalise or punish hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Survivors of corrective rape are usually stigmatised by the police, denied investigation or coerced into silence. This invisibility before the law not only silences victims but also encourages perpetrators, who later perpetuate a cycle of violence.
- Community Silence- In most societies, particularly in some African societies, cultural beliefs contribute to facilitating corrective rape by silence and denial. LGBTQ+ identities are viewed as “un-African,” leading to complicity in the community.[5] Families and communities might opt to handle cases in private, shunning public shame instead of pursuing justice. This silence creates a perilous situation in which these crimes are made normal and go unchecked. While the situation is different, a similar trend of societal denial and underreporting can be found in other nations like India, where queer individuals are subjected to violence in the family and society but seldom receive public sympathy or legal recourse.
Impact on survivors:
Some incidents are hard to forget and get healed from. Especially those that are involuntary. In the same way, Corrective Rape leaves a Psychological, Physical and Social impact on the victim which are as follows-
- Psychological Trauma- Corrective rape victims suffer profound and long-term psychological trauma that is far more extreme than the offence itself. “The psychological effects experienced by all (100%) rape survivors were: sadness, anxiety, revengeful feelings, difficulty in sleeping, terrifying dreams, avoidance, fear of being re-raped, intense fear, stigma, and bitterness.”[6] These emotional damages are frequently linked with social stigma and resentment, further distancing the survivors from their support networks. These results highlight the imperative for specialised mental health care interventions addressing this specific trauma’s unique impact experienced by victims of this hate-related crime.
- Physical Health Consequences- Corrective rape is not only a vicious assault on identity but also a serious public health emergency. In South Africa, it has been recognised as one of the major causes of the transmission of HIV among lesbian women which is an already marginalised population within the healthcare system. About 10% of South African lesbians are HIV positive, and this rate is likely associated with sexual violence such as corrective rape.[7] What’s truly appalling is how structural homophobia further limits access to sexual health education and care for queer folks, leaving them doubly exposed. It’s not merely the bodily violence that does harm but the silence, the stigma and the structural abandonment that come in its wake. No human being should endure lifelong harm for simply being themselves.
- Social and Cultural Stigma- “Survivors of corrective rape often face not only physical and psychological trauma but also enduring social stigma, leading to isolation, unemployment, and systemic exclusion.” [8] The physical harm caused by such attacks can be extensive, requiring prolonged medical treatment. Psychologically, the survivors often develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, which may last for years after the attack. The social stigma of being a victim of corrective rape makes these issues worse, as survivors are often shunned by their families and communities, becoming socially isolated. Such marginalisation can work to prevent them from finding employment, further cementing systemic exclusion and economic hardship.
Solving these complex problems demands an integrated response that involves making available mental health services, conducting public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, and enacting laws that safeguard survivors from discrimination in all areas of life, such as work. These interventions are necessary to facilitate the complete recovery and reintegration of survivors into society.
Conclusion:
Corrective rape isn’t a solitary crime, it is a manifestation of entrenched prejudice, patriarchal domination and the breakdown of systems intended to safeguard. It attacks people for merely being beyond the limits of heteronormative society, not only trying to assault but to “correct” that which doesn’t require correction.
The survivors’ experience cannot be overestimated. From anxiety and PTSD to HIV exposure and institutional exclusion, the harm is prolonged and deep-seated. And yet, there remain no specific protections or acknowledgment for such hate crimes within the legal systems of most countries, including India. This silence is as lethal as the crime itself.
To progress, we need to call corrective rape what it is- a hate crime, based on misogyny, ignorance and fear. More than legal change is needed to bring about change; society must change. Awareness and honest discussions regarding gender and consent are important. So is the establishment of safe spaces within families, and institutions, where queer people are not merely tolerated but affirmed. To stop this abhorrent practice is to challenge the conventions that keep it alive. Corrective rape can never be regarded as anything less than a crime against humanity- because that is what it is.
Author(s) Name: Nishtha Narang (UILS, Panjab University)
References:
[1] New York Times, ‘Corrective Rape’ (26 July 2013) <https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/07/26/opinion/26corrective-rape.html>accessed 10 April 2025.
[2] United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, ‘Corrective Rape’ (2022) <https://www.unescwa.org/sd-glossary/corrective-rape>accessed 10 April 2025.
[3] Sarah Doan-Minh, ‘Corrective Rape: An Extreme Manifestation of Discrimination and the State’s Complicity in Sexual Violence’ (2019) 30 Hastings Women’s LJ 16 <https://repository.uclawsf.edu/hwlj/vol30/iss1/8/>accessed 10 April 2025.
[4] HandWiki, ‘Corrective Rape’ (9 October 2022) Encyclopedia MDPI<https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28542> accessed 10 April 2025.
[5] Sindiswa Ngongoma and Vuyelwa Maweni,‘The Criminological Analysis of Communal Motives on Corrective Rape in African Communities: A Case Study of Pietermaritzburg, Kwa-Zulu Natal’ (2024) 31
Critical Criminology 989<https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10612-024-09749-5>accessed 10 April 2025.
[6] Lucy Jemutai Kibet, ‘Psychological Effects of Rape: Experiences from Survivors Attending Selected Post-Rape Care Centres in Kenya’ (2019) 7 British Journal of Psychology Research 1<https://eajournals.org/wp-content/uploads/Psychological-Effects-of-Rape.pdf>accessed 11 April 2025.
[7] HandWiki, ‘Corrective Rape’ (9 October 2022) Encyclopedia MDPI<https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/28542>accessed 11 April 2025.
[8] Vimbai Mutero, ‘Beyond the Surface: Understanding the Cultural Roots of Corrective Rape in South African Townships’ (2025) Culture, Health & Sexuality< Beyond the surface: Understanding the cultural roots of corrective rape in South African townships – Charles Darwin University>accessed 11 April 2025.
