The decolonial analysis of social science research : reflections from gender-based violence and femicide research in South Africa /
This case study explores the application of decolonial methodologies in a community-based research project called SABELA (RESPOND) investigating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa. Conducted by an all-Black African female research team, SABELA employed a mixed-methods, partici...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
London :
SAGE Publications Ltd,
2026.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Connect to the full text of this electronic book |
| Summary: | This case study explores the application of decolonial methodologies in a community-based research project called SABELA (RESPOND) investigating Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) in South Africa. Conducted by an all-Black African female research team, SABELA employed a mixed-methods, participatory approach to foreground the voices of marginalized community members and activists across three hard-to-reach sites--Evaton, Acornhoek, and Phalaborwa. Drawing on intersectionality and a rights-based framework, the study emphasiszed culturally grounded knowledge production, relational ethics, and methodological inclusivity. The research design integrated a mixed methods, community-centered participatory approach. SABELA revealed the limitations of conventional research ethics when applied in South African contexts, advocating instead for flexible, community-informed standards that uphold dignity, spirituality, and collective participation. Unique insights emerged through culturally attuned practices, such as incorporating local languages, communal prayer, and indigenous protocols of engagement. Challenges such as participant punctuality, emotional responses, and power dynamics were navigated by embracing local norms and rejecting rigid academic expectations. Findings highlight the importance of epistemic justice and community co-ownership in addressing systemic GBVF. SABELA concludes that decolonial approaches not only yield richer, more relevant data but also foster trust, empowerment, and pathways to sustainable social transformation in GBVF interventions. |
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| Physical Description: | 1 online resource |
| ISBN: | 9781036243074 1036243079 |