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The Endangered Partner
a Careers and Counselling Services, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
Key Words: violence • domestic • women • intimate partner • femicide • Africa • Botswana
Address for correspondence: Amos A. Alao, Careers & Counselling Services, P. Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana. Voice: 267-355-2317; fax: 267-395-6958. e-mail: alaoaa{at}mopipi.ub.bw
Violence in a relationship and in a family setting has been an issue of concern to various interest groups and professional organizations. Of particular interest in this article is violence against women in a relationship. While there is an abundance of knowledge on violence against women in general, intimate or partner femicide seems to have received less attention. Unfortunately, the incidence of violence against women, and intimate femicide in particular, has been an issue of concern in the African setting.
This article examines the trends of intimate femicide in an African setting in general, and in Botswana in particular. The increase in intimate femicide is an issue of concern, which calls for collective effort to address. This article also examines trends of femicide in Botswana, and the antecedents and the precipitating factors. Some studies have implicated societal and cultural dynamics as playing significant roles in intimate femicide in the African setting. It is believed that the patriarchal nature of most African settings and the ideology of male supremacy have relegated women to a subordinate role. Consequently, respect for women in any relationship with men is lopsided in favor of men and has led to abuse of women, including intimate femicide. Other militating factors in intimate femicide are examined and the implications for counseling to assist the endangered female partner are discussed.
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