Thembi, a 25-year-old student from Gauteng, started therapy four months after she was assaulted and stabbed with a knife whilst studying in a local park near the university campus. Thembi had a history of multiple sexual traumas; at age 5–11 years, she was sexually assaulted by an adult female friend of her family. At age 22, she was raped by a male friend inside her home. Consequently, Thembi reported having had experiences of depression, characterised by low self-esteem and interpersonal difficulty.
Fiona, a 20-year-old student from the Western Cape, was sexually assaulted and raped by a female cousin. At age 12, her uncle sexually assaulted her, but she narrowly escaped by calling for help. Her experience of sexual trauma was never spoken about in her family. As a young adult, Fiona tended to isolate herself and struggled to function socially or to engage in romantic relationships.
Olga, a 21-year-old student from Gauteng, was raped by a friend from university. Olga did not inform the police about the rape as she did not want her family to know about her trauma. Olga felt confused about the rape because the perpetrator was a friend and she still saw him on campus. As a result, she struggled academically and was avoidant of the perpetrator.
Thando, a 21-year-old student from Gauteng, was stalked by an unfamiliar man in town who had exposed his genitalia to her in public, which led her to seek safety. As a result, she felt afraid to go to town as she believed that the perpetrator would find her and possibly rape her. In addition, Thando reported that her male cousin sexually assaulted her from age 7 to 12. At age nine, she witnessed her father being shot and seriously injured, and at age 14 she was physically attacked with a knife. Thando had difficulty with depression and low self-esteem.
Buyiswa, a 20-year-old student from the Eastern Cape, reported that three unknown men sexually assaulted her. Three months post-trauma, Buyiswa started trauma therapy and reported that she could remember certain parts of the assault and was unsure of the extent of the assault. Buyiswa stated that she did not inform her mother and found difficult to receive support from her family, as she did not want to burden them.
Anna, a 27-year-old student, reported that as a child she witnessed prolonged interpersonal violence between her mother and father, and that her father was emotionally abusive. At age 16, she witnessed her mother being shot and killed during a home break-in. At age 22, she reported that a work colleague raped her, and she believed that he drugged her after having supper with him. Anna found it difficult to trust people and had conflicting feelings toward her estranged father.
Tessa, a 20-year-old student from KwaZulu-Natal, was raped at age 15 and again at age 18. Tessa reported that she struggled with depression and low self-esteem. She described her relationship with her parents as emotionally guarded. According to Tessa, her family did not know about her sexual traumas. Tessa found it difficult to talk about her past and current traumas and avoided emotionally overwhelming experiences.
Fiona, a 20-year-old student from the Western Cape, was sexually assaulted and raped by a female cousin. At age 12, her uncle sexually assaulted her, but she narrowly escaped by calling for help. Her experience of sexual trauma was never spoken about in her family. As a young adult, Fiona tended to isolate herself and struggled to function socially or to engage in romantic relationships.
Olga, a 21-year-old student from Gauteng, was raped by a friend from university. Olga did not inform the police about the rape as she did not want her family to know about her trauma. Olga felt confused about the rape because the perpetrator was a friend and she still saw him on campus. As a result, she struggled academically and was avoidant of the perpetrator.
Thando, a 21-year-old student from Gauteng, was stalked by an unfamiliar man in town who had exposed his genitalia to her in public, which led her to seek safety. As a result, she felt afraid to go to town as she believed that the perpetrator would find her and possibly rape her. In addition, Thando reported that her male cousin sexually assaulted her from age 7 to 12. At age nine, she witnessed her father being shot and seriously injured, and at age 14 she was physically attacked with a knife. Thando had difficulty with depression and low self-esteem.
Buyiswa, a 20-year-old student from the Eastern Cape, reported that three unknown men sexually assaulted her. Three months post-trauma, Buyiswa started trauma therapy and reported that she could remember certain parts of the assault and was unsure of the extent of the assault. Buyiswa stated that she did not inform her mother and found difficult to receive support from her family, as she did not want to burden them.
Anna, a 27-year-old student, reported that as a child she witnessed prolonged interpersonal violence between her mother and father, and that her father was emotionally abusive. At age 16, she witnessed her mother being shot and killed during a home break-in. At age 22, she reported that a work colleague raped her, and she believed that he drugged her after having supper with him. Anna found it difficult to trust people and had conflicting feelings toward her estranged father.
Tessa, a 20-year-old student from KwaZulu-Natal, was raped at age 15 and again at age 18. Tessa reported that she struggled with depression and low self-esteem. She described her relationship with her parents as emotionally guarded. According to Tessa, her family did not know about her sexual traumas. Tessa found it difficult to talk about her past and current traumas and avoided emotionally overwhelming experiences.
Free full text: Click here
