Plight and Fate of Women During and Following Genocide

Samuel Totten

Dec 2011 · Genocide: A Critical Bibliographic Review Book 1 · Transaction Publishers

About this ebook

The plight and fate of female victims during the course of genocide is radically and profoundly different from their male counterparts. Like males, female victims suffer demonization, ostracism, discrimination, and deprivation of their basic human rights. They are often rounded up, deported, and killed. But, unlike most men, women are subjected to rape, gang rape, and mass rape. Such assaults and degradation can, and often do, result in horrible injuries to their reproductive systems and unwanted pregnancies. This volume takes one stride towards assessing these grievances, and argues against policies calculated to continue such indifference to great human suffering. The horror and pain suffered by females does not end with the act of rape. There is always the fear, and reality, of being infected with HIV/AIDS. Concomitantly, there is the possibility of becoming pregnant.Then, there is the birth of the babies. For some, the very sight of the babies and children reminds mothers of the horrific violations they suffered. When mothers harbor deep-seated hatred or distain for such children, it results in more misery. The hatred may be so great that children born of rape leave home early in order to fend for themselves on the street. This seventh volume in the Genocide series will provoke debate, discussion, reflection and, ultimately, action. The issues presented include ongoing mass rape of girls and women during periods of war and genocide, ostracism of female victims, terrible psychological and physical wounds, the plight of offspring resulting from rapes, and the critical need for medical and psychological services.

About the author

Samuel Totten is professor of curriculum and instruction at the College of Education and Health Professions, University of Arkansas. His research interests include the Holocaust, genocide education, and genocide theory. He is the co-founding editor of Genocide Studies and Prevention: An International Journal, co-editorof theJournal of African Conflicts and Peace Studies, and editor of the Transaction series on Genocide Studies. His numerous books include Plight and Fate of Women During and Following Genocide; Century of Genocide: Critical Essays and Eyewitness Accounts; and Genocide in Darfur: Investigating Atrocities in the Sudan.