Oppressive silence: factors marginalising same-sex intimate partner violence in Namibia

This article examines why same-sex intimate partner violence remains largely unaddressed in Namibia, despite evidence that it is a significant issue affecting local LGBTI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, inter and more) communities. Drawing on 12 in-depth interviews with same-sex intimate partner violence survivors conducted between August and October 2023, the article illustrates how cultural and heteronormative understandings of intimate partner violence, necropolitical silencing by state and public institutions, and the social dynamics within LGBTI+ communities contribute to the marginalisation of same-sex intimate partner violence. This oppressive silence severely limits the agency of survivors to respond to their abusive experiences. By focusing primarily on trans people and queer women, the research broadens the scope of studies on same-sex intimate partner violence in the Global South and moves beyond the dominant emphasis on cisgender gay and other men who have sex with men.