Effects of Conflict-related Sexual Violence on Kinship Networks

Case of Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh

Abstract

With the outset in feminist theory on wartime rape (Brownmiller, 1975) this paper iluminates how kinship networks are affected by conflict-related sexual violence. Following feminist scholars we argue that one way conflict-related sexual violence is intened to damage communities is by destroying their cohesion. An analysis of kinship relations of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh indicates that members of the community post refuge struggle to protect “the conjugal order” (MacKenzie, 2010) and social norms related to family and marriage. Attempting to avoid the shame and stigmatisation of sexual violence, kinship networks are being reevaluated in order to protect both the family’s honour and the survivors. This is done for example by shunning survivors or making use of corrective measures like child marriage and restrictions on women’s movement. Thus, when women are subjected to conflict-related sexual violence they are victimized twice: first through the experience of sexual violence during conflict, then by stigmatisation post conflict.