Research glossary

Restricting or denying a woman’s ability to make her own decisions about her body is an attempt to maintain power and control over a woman. Behaviour that has the intention of controlling a woman’s reproductive health decision-making is known as reproductive coercion. Reproductive coercion includes pregnancy coercion, birth control/contraception sabotage, forced sterilization and control of pregnancy options

Behaviour that has the intention of controlling someone’s reproductive health decision-making such as restricting or denying their ability to make decisions about their own body in an attempt to maintain power and control. Reproductive coercion includes pregnancy coercion, birth control / contraception sabotage, forced sterilization and control of pregnancy options.

The process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress — such as family and relationship problems, serious health problems or workplace and financial stressors. Resilience is multidimensional and is associated with individual, relationship, community, cultural and environmental factors.

A restraining order is family court order to help protect your health and safety. You can apply for a restraining order at family court if you are concerned about your or your children’s safety and you were married or lived together for any period of time, or have a child with the person. It can limit what someone can do, where someone can go, and who someone can contact. A restraining order includes a list of conditions that can either be general or specific

Retraumatization “occurs when someone re-experiences or re-lives a previous traumatic event.” [1] This can occur “when methods used to discuss, debate and analyze the original trauma cause triggering symptoms related to the incident itself, or reliving moments from the original trauma.” [2] Symptoms can include “flashbacks, nightmares, sleeping issues, anxiety, withdrawal from school/social settings, intense emotions, and more”. [1]

“When retraumatization happens, the system has failed the individual who has experienced trauma, and this can leave them feeling misunderstood, unsupported and even blamed. It can also perpetuate a damaging cycle that prevents healing and growth”

Revenge porn is the sharing or distribution of intimate images or videos of someone without their consent, often to shame, control, blackmail, or punish them, especially after a breakup.

It does not matter if the images were originally shared consensually within a private relationship. Once they are shared, forwarded, posted, or threatened with sharing without permission, it becomes abuse. Revenge porn is a form of gender-based violence and digital abuse. This abuse can cause serious emotional harm, including anxiety, depression, fear, reputational damage, and social isolation. Survivors may feel unsafe at school, work, or in their communities, especially when images spread quickly through social media or messaging apps.

In South Africa, revenge porn is illegal under the Films and Publications Amendment Act (2019). A person who knowingly distributes private sexual images without consent can face a fine or imprisonment. Even threatening to share intimate images may be considered a criminal offence.

Risk factor is an event or situation that increases the possibility of a negative outcome for an individual.

The exchange of money, employment, goods or services for sex, including
sexual favours or other forms of humiliating, degrading or exploitative
behaviour. This includes any exchange of assistance that is due to
beneficiaries of assistance.

Safety refers principally to the social conditions that instill a feeling of being protected from danger, harm, risk, or injury, and is based on the real and perceived risk of physical and emotional victimisation.

Safety planning involves creating practical steps to increase safety during or after abuse. It is personalised and survivor-led.

This may include identifying trusted contacts, preparing important documents, setting emergency code words, planning escape routes, and securing digital devices. A safety plan helps reduce risk while respecting the survivor’s choices.

For guidance on creating a personalised safety plan, including practical steps to reduce risk and prepare for emergencies, explore the Safety Planning resources available within our Domestic Violence Guides.

Victim/survivor safety planning refers to the process of supporting or empowering victims/survivors in developing strategies to increase their safety. Safety planning should always be done in collaboration with the victim/survivor. The victim/survivor constantly navigates her safety and is often the most knowledgeable about the danger she faces. Consistent with the principles of domestic violence risk management, safety plans should be tailored to the victim/survivor’s circumstances and developed to suit her individual needs. Safety plans must take into account the realities of each victim/survivor given that many of them face major barriers to putting safety plans in place due to the lack of available, accessible, acceptable, affordable, and appropriate services. A wide range of victim services, mental health, social service, human resource, law enforcement, and security professionals may engage in safety planning. If a team is involved in managing risk for violence, one member of the team should be designated as the victim/survivor liaison. As with domestic violence risk management, professionals engaging in comprehensive safety planning require the appropriate training and experience. Consistent with domestic violence risk management, victim/survivor safety planning involves improving both static and dynamic security. With respect to static security, victims/survivors may collaborate with victim support workers to identify security improvements that could be made to where she lives, works and travels. For instance, improvements could be made to visibility by adding lights, altering gardens or landscapes, ensuring proximity between parking locations and workplace entrances, employing security personnel, and installing video cameras. Access could be restricted by adding or improving entry systems, door locks, and security checkpoints. Alarms could be installed, or victims/survivors could be provided with personal alarms. In some cases, it is impossible to ensure the safety of victim/survivor in a particular site and the victim/survivor may consider extreme measures such as relocation of her residence or workplace. Shelters and counseling agencies specializing in violence against women can provide direct services and linkages to other services.

The victim affected by violence, without being the main target originally

Within the context of children and youth disclosing experiences of sexual violence, Secondary Victimization refers to “when child victims face negative reactions—whether received, perceived, or not adapted to their needs—from their loved ones and/or professionals in the sociojudicial system. This can contribute to increased suffering and trauma for the victim.

Secondary victimization therefore refers to causing a new psychological and emotional wound to the child victim.

The person appointed by the guardian, the father or grandfather, during his lifetime, from those considered
competent to support the child. While it is not necessary for the guardian to use specific words while assigning,
the assignment is done only by a guardian stating for example: "I select or recommend so and so".
According to the personal status laws, the selected guardian can choose a replacement for himself, if the
original guardian’s assignment enables him to do so.

the thick, white fluid that men produce
from the penis when they ejaculate

the punishment given to a convicted
criminal by the court

two or more rapes perpetrated by one person on at least two separate occasions.

This word has two connotations:
1- The sexual activity
2- The biological characteristics of males and females identified by the chromosomes and sex cells, which are
limited to the natural differences such as reproductive functions.
- "Gender" is often used as an alternative to "sex." However, gender indicates the social characteristics that are
given to the sex of the individual. People are born females or males (sex) and then learn how to be girls and
boys, and become later women and men (gender).
- Giving birth to children is a function performed by women because of their sex while raising children is a function
given to women on the basis of gender. (For further clarification see the definition of gender).

Sexual exclusion refers to denying people recognition, dignity, or access to healthy sexual rights and experiences because of stigma, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, or discrimination.

For example, assuming that people with disabilities are “asexual” denies queer people safe spaces to express relationships, or refusing comprehensive sex education to certain groups.

Sexual exclusion can lead to shame, invisibility, and limited access to healthcare and protection. Challenging sexual exclusion means recognising that all people deserve bodily autonomy, safety, and respect.

Sex trafficking involves forcing, coercing, deceiving, or manipulating someone into commercial sexual acts for profit. It may involve violence, threats, debt bondage, false promises of jobs, or emotional control.

Minors involved in commercial sex are legally considered victims of trafficking, even if force or threats are not visible. Children cannot legally consent to commercial sexual activity.

Sex trafficking can happen across borders or within communities in South Africa and often targets vulnerable individuals, including young women, migrants, and those facing poverty.