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Title: SPOTLIGHTING RAPE CULTURE IN GHANA THROUGH THE LENS OF DRAMA
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Authors: Faustina Brew* and Patience Nukpezah ,Ghana |
Abstract: This paper projects the deep-rooted veracity of rape culture in Ghana. Rape barely comes up in
mainstream discourse in Ghana and there are no significant efforts to address this pervasive
menace. Reported rape cases are often swept under the carpet and hardly sustained to logical
conclusions. Victims are either blamed or stigmatised if they speak up and often, preventive
overtures on rape are limited to cautioning girls to be careful not to get raped. In a bid to openly
engage in conversation and examine the entrenched reality of rape culture in Ghana, we directed
Danso Sakyi’s play, You Raped Me, which highlights rape culture in Ghana. The play presents a
controversial rape case in which the audience forms the jury to pronounce judgement after the
accuser and accused are heard. Selected members of the audience were engaged in open forum
discussion on why the culprit should be convicted or reasons to declare the victim’s story
incredible. With the play as a stimulus, the pertinent subject of rape was discussed offering an
appreciable depth of insight into society’s views on rape culture in Ghana. This paper illuminates
the contents of the play in relation to rape culture and discusses the views of the respondents. The
findings showed that rape culture is really entrenched in Ghana and people will believe or disprove
one’s claim of rape based on engrained biases of who raped, who got raped and the circumstances
of the rape. |
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