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The reckoning of sexual violence and corruption: A gendered study of sextortion in migration to South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Bicker Caarten, Asleigh

    (UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University)

  • Van Heugten, Loes

    (UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University)

  • Merkle, Ortrun

    (UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University)

Abstract

This research seeks to understand experiences of sextortion of African migrants migrating to South Africa and how these are gendered. This research is interesting and relevant both for academic and policy discussion, for two reasons. For one, sextortion is an emerging concept that has not been sufficiently studied and for another, South-South migration is still frequently forgotten in studies about migration. This paper analyses and discusses the 16 semi-structured interviews with experts in migration, corruption and gender as a first scoping study looking at migrants' experiences with sextortion in the South African context. The results have highlighted that women are most vulnerable to sextortion and that migrants not only encounter sextortion during their journeys, but also after arriving in South Africa. This can be explained referring to South Africa's culture where both gender-based violence and xenophobia are deeply rooted, making up for an "ideal" environment for sextortion to take place. At last, this paper discusses the different consequences that surviving sextortion has, which are, among others, the spread of STIs, unwanted pregnancies, shame, stigmatisation, and normalisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Bicker Caarten, Asleigh & Van Heugten, Loes & Merkle, Ortrun, 2022. "The reckoning of sexual violence and corruption: A gendered study of sextortion in migration to South Africa," MERIT Working Papers 2022-009, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2022009
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    File URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2022/wp2022-009.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Oliver Bakewell, 2009. "South-South Migration and Human Development: Reflections on African Experiences," Human Development Research Papers (2009 to present) HDRP-2009-07, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), revised Apr 2009.
    2. Giovanni Peri, 2014. "Do immigrant workers depress the wages of native workers?," IZA World of Labor, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), pages 1-42, May.
    3. Keith Blackburn, 2012. "Corruption And Development: Explaining The Evidence," Manchester School, University of Manchester, vol. 80(4), pages 401-428, July.
    4. Bakewell, Oliver, 2009. "South-South Migration and Human Development: Reflections on African Experiences," MPRA Paper 19185, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Dunkle, Kristin L. & Jewkes, Rachel & Nduna, Mzikazi & Jama, Nwabisa & Levin, Jonathan & Sikweyiya, Yandisa & Koss, Mary P., 2007. "Transactional sex with casual and main partners among young South African men in the rural Eastern Cape: Prevalence, predictors, and associations with gender-based violence," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(6), pages 1235-1248, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Sextortion; Migration; Corruption; Gender-based violence; Sexual violence; Sexual transactions; South-South migration; Intra-Africa migration; South African migration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F59 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - Other
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration

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