Psychologist Angeline Stephens on Trauma, Identity, and Inclusive Care in South Africa

Both gender-based and xenophobic violence have a deep-rooted legacy in South Africa’s colonial past, which imposed hierarchical racial systems that portrayed especially Black African women as non-human. As I reflect on the ongoing crisis of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls in South Africa, my mind is occupied with visceral images of women – mothers, caregivers, community nurturers – sitting displaced on dirty pavements, their children and babies huddled close by, looking forlorn, fearful and bewildered. These images formed part of the media coverage of the most recent wave of xenophobic violence sweeping across South Africa. In her practice, Stephens addresses these intersecting forms of violence through a lens that acknowledges historical trauma while providing affirming care for survivors.