Eskom to 'closely monitor' power system as Stage 6 gets implemented
Chicken prices are expected to spike over the festive season
'ANC classifies nobody according to race!' - Dr Wesley Seale (ANC Western Cape)
Ramokgopa to receive 1st batch of loadshedding support equipment from China
Moonshot Pact: 'Change is a societal task, not just a political one' – ActionSA
Look to the mainstream to explain the rise of the far right
Farmer tries to hold energy giant liable for climate crisis in landmark case
More than 130 companies liquidated in October as SA constraints bite
1000s of jobs on the line as ArcelorMittal forced to wind down some operations
[WATCH] A man’s ‘cheesy’ simple proposal is going viral
'You're drunk as a skunk, no more wine!' What's staff protocol for drunk guests?
Travellers beware! Some Airbnb users have found hidden cameras in their rooms
‘When a batter faces a ball, it’s got nothing to do with colour’ - Linda Zondi
CSA to appoint panel for probe into SA U19 cricket captain's pro-Israel remarks
'I know I'm a girl and I have nothing to hide' – Caster Semenya tells all
Dun dunnnnnn dun! Did the Jaws movie just manipulate you into fear?
'Kirstenbosch Gardens not in the best condition it could be.' Here's why...
On this day in 1972... Atari releases Pong, world's first successful video game
British man claims wolf spider laid eggs in his toe
[WATCH] Child leads slow-speed police chase in stolen forklift
Britain and Greece in a quarrel over ancient marbles
Rwandan troops in Mozambique are successfully protecting civilians
Renewal of AGOA (which gives exports duty-free access to US) not a done deal
Kenyan school beatings lead to death of at least 20 pupils
MANDY WIENER: The government is failing – do not ignore the red flag reports
Car insurance: 'Personal use' likely means cover only for COMMUTING to work
Debut novel explores domestic violence and its larger effect
Dr Barbara Boswell came from a home that was plagued with intimate partner violence. As an act of catharsis and an attempt to educate people on this issue, she wrote about it. The result is her debut novel, Grace.
_Grace _is a work of fiction that takes an uncomfortably close look at domestic violence. It goes further than the impact of the abused to the impact of the family and future generations.
This was important for Boswell, as in her research she found that children who are exposed to intimate partner violence are likely to find themselves in similar situations.
It is commonly known with people who work with intimate partner violence, that children who are exposed to it go on to become abusers or they enter abusive situations.
Dr Barbara Boswell, author and Senior Lecturer of English Studies at WITS
The book raises the all-important question - if you know violence is occurring on a regular basis, do you so something about it?
Boswell says the home that has violence does not talk about it because of shame. On the other hand, outsiders don't help because they don't want to get involved. It was important for Boswell to show this side of domestic violence.
Another big influence for Boswell, while she was writing the book, is the current femicide South Africa is facing. Her novel explores this dark topic, which is closely linked to domestic violence.
One of the statistics that I found was, half of the women murdered in South Africa, are murdered by intimate partners. It is quite a big problem for women in South Africa.
Dr Barbara Boswell, author and Senior Lecturer of English Studies at WITS
Once the hopes Boswell has for her novel, is that is would help young people question and understand healthy relationships, and recognising the hallmarks of intimate partner abuse.
Listen to the full interview below:
More from Gender violence in the Spotlight
Do political parties police their own for sexual improprieties against women?
Moloto Mothapo: We need to redouble our (fighting gender-based violence) efforts
Highlights