Unmanned and unmade : uncovering violence, emasculation, and shame in Nahum 3

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dc.contributor.advisorClaassens, L. Juliana M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorO'Malley, Mel Baarsen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-22T14:50:35Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T18:03:10Z
dc.date.available2024-02-22T14:50:35Z
dc.date.available2024-04-26T18:03:10Z
dc.date.issued2024-02
dc.descriptionThesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation explores the intersection of cultural trauma and masculinity in the book of Nahum to better understand the sexual violence described in the text. God’s rape of Nineveh, and by extension, the king of Assyria and his army of warriors, is deeply problematic. However, avoiding and ignoring this text misses an opportunity to understand the book of Nahum as a survival narrative, written in response to trauma and disaster in the Judean community. This violent portrayal offers a glimpse into the real experience of emasculation of male survivors of sexual trauma, not only in the past, but also in the present. Exploring what male survivors endure in Nahum provides particular insight into the experience of male survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST) today. This study seeks to illuminate the connections between warriors of the past and of the present who share common ground and to understand the loss of identity, both of maleness and of vocation, which ensues in the aftermath of rape. Nahum demonstrates the insidious power of patriarchy and the enduring problem of hegemonic masculinity. By exploring constructs of gender, it becomes clear that when a man, especially a warrior, is raped, either as a show of power or after being defeated on the battlefield, he undergoes an unmanning process. In essence, he is no longer a man. The experience of emasculation is traumatic and causes a male survivor to become isolated not only from God and others but also from himself. Neglecting Nahum’s story denies the reality concerning male rape, which remains hidden to this day. Consequently, survivors are often cut off from needed social support which could contribute to the recovery journey. Uncovering Nahum and its horrific violence is an opportunity to see spiritual and emotional wounds that have been buried for far too long. Interpreting the violence in this book through the lens of cultural trauma empowers the reader to better understand the male survivor’s journey including emasculation, shame, and isolation. With this knowledge unearthed, the journey of healing may become possible. For those with the courage to read it, Nahum’s survival story is, and has been, a teacher of trauma’s truths over the millennia. By reading Nahum and contemplating its implications for male survivors, the rarely discussed consequences of sexual violence against men can be more fully recognized and addressed. en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif ondersoek die verband tussen kulturele trauma en manlikheid in die boek Nahum om die seksuele geweld wat in die teks beskryf word, beter te verstaan. God se verkragting van Nineve, en by uitbreiding, die koning van Assirië en sy krygers, is diep problematies, maar om hierdie teks te vermy of ignoreer, is om 'n geleentheid mis te loop om die boek Nahum te verstaan as 'n oorlewingsvertelling, geskryf in reaksie op trauma en ramp in die Judese gemeenskap. Hierdie gewelddadige uitbeelding bied 'n blik op die werklike ervaring van emaskulasie van manlike oorlewendes van seksuele trauma, nie net in die verlede nie, maar ook in die hede.Nadenke oor wat manlike oorlewendes in Nahum verduur, bied besondere insig in die ervaring van manlike oorlewendes van Militêre Seksuele Trauma (MST) vandag. Hierdie studie poog om die verbande tussen krygers van die verlede en hede wat gemeenskaplike grond deel, te belig en om die verlies aan identiteit, beide van manlikheid en van roeping, in die nasleep van verkragting, te verstaan. Nahum demonstreer die voortslepende mag van patriargie en die blywende probleem van hegemoniese manlikheid. Deur konstrukte van gender te ondersoek, word dit duidelik dat wanneer 'n man, veral 'n soldaat, verkrag word, hetsy as 'n magsvertoon of nadat hy op die slagveld verslaan is, ondergaan hy 'n ontmanningsproses. In wese is hy nie meer 'n man nie. Die ervaring van emaskulasie is traumaties en veroorsaak dat 'n manlike oorlewende nie net van God en ander afgesonder word nie, maar ook van homself. Die verwaarlosing van Nahum, is ontkenning van die werklikheid oor verkragting, wat tot vandag verborge bly. Gevolglik kan oorlewendes afgesny word van die nodige sosiale ondersteuning wat tot hul herstelproses kan bydra. Om Nahum en sy gruwelike geweld te ontbloot is 'n geleentheid om geestelike en emosionele wonde te sien wat al te lank verborge is. Deur die geweld in die boek te interpreteer deur die lens van kulturele trauma word die leser bemagtig om die manlike oorlewende se reis beter te verstaan, insluitend emaskulasie, skaamte en isolasie. Met hierdie kennis in die hand, kan die reis op weg na genesing moontlik word. Vir diegene met die moed om die boek te lees, is en was Nahum se oorlewingsverhaal 'n les oor trauma waarvan die waarhede oor die millennia strek. Deur Nahum te lees en die implikasies daarvan vir manlike oorlewendes te bedink, kan die gevolge van seksuele geweld teen mans, wat dikwels nie geopper word nie, meer volledig erken en aangespreek word. af_ZA
dc.description.versionDoctoralen_ZA
dc.format.extent244 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130450
dc.language.isoen en_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSexual abuse victimsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshViolenceen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshAbusive menen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshBible. Nahum, III -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.en_ZA
dc.subject.lcshUCTDen_ZA
dc.titleUnmanned and unmade : uncovering violence, emasculation, and shame in Nahum 3en_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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