Home-grown Communicative Competences in Domestic Violence Mitigation: Harnessing Cultural Heritage for Development
摘要
This chapter explores the role of language in domestic violence mitigation within the twenty-first-century African context, specifically the Zimbabwean context, arguing that radical feminist perspectives alone are insufficient for addressing this complex issue. Adopting the Africana Womanism perspective, it posits that through effective communicative practices, both men and women can collaboratively confront domestic violence. Rather than viewing men as adversaries, Africana Womanism sees communication as a vital site for change. Language is positioned as a non-gendered social capital that communities can harness to combat domestic violence. This exploration emphasizes the importance of culturally rooted interventions grounded in the social realities of African communities. By focusing on linguistic awareness as a culturally responsive strategy, the chapter advocates for the development of communication-centered intervention models that empower individuals to navigate and mitigate domestic violence.