"Violence against women and girls continues unabated in every continent, country and culture. It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families, and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence — yet the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned". — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, 8 March 2007
Drawing upon scholarship from political geography of violence, ethnic -nationalisms, feminism and identity this course attempts to map the contours of women in war zones, in refugee camps, and in regions engulfed in religious fundamentalism(s). We will focus on women in various conflict zones from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, to Bosnia, Rwanda/Congo, Sudan, Somalia and Guatemala, where the rules of war are changing dramatically. Distinctions between battlefield and home, soldier and civilian, state security and domestic security are breaking down. The focus of this course will be on investigating what happens when the body, household, nation, state, and economy become sites at which violence is invoked against women. In particular, an analysis of this conflict will move us forward in our understanding of violence against women—how it is perpetrated, survived, and resisted. Our focus will be to examine women not only as pawns, and victims of rape and sexual violence but to also analyze how women may become mediators, peacemakers, justice-seekers, and human rights advocates in these areas. Topics will focus on questions around nationalism and gender relations, globalization and war, violence and women's rights, women's empowerment in war, gender and citizenship, women’s honor and war. Each student will identify a particular "conflict Zone" and provide to the class periodic reports and critical analyses on the activities of women’s movement or organization in their chosen conflict zone, applying the principles and lessons drawn from the course.
Learning Goals
In this course, students
gain an awareness of the following themes:
1)situations of women in conflict zones around the world;
2) nature of violence against women and ways in which it affects their social, economic and political status;
3) gendered themes in the practice of both micro- and macro- politics;
4) how they can move from victims to resisters, justice seekers and advocates for human rights; and
5) links between gender, feminism, and "activist" learning.
Required
Texts