[Anthropgrad] Seminar- Joyce Wu

[Patrick Kilby]

The Australian National University

Gender, Sexuality and Culture Seminar Series

Seminars are in Seminar Room C, Top Floor, RSPAS Coombs Building

Mondays 1.00 - 2.30p.m.

Monday 23 March 2009

Joyce Wu

PhD candidate
Anthropology, Faculty of Arts

"From 'Fallen Blossoms' to 'Army Latrines': the Sexual Politics of
Interpreting & Representing Rape during Conflict Situation"

The politics of representation has long been influential in constructing
the discourse, perception, norms and attitudes exhibited around the
issue of sexual violence during peace-time. From the ways in which
victims/survivors and perpetrators are depicted, the use of language and
tone, to the manoeuvring of information - how facts are presented or
omitted - not only illustrate the prevailing norms and attitudes about
sexual violence and gender roles, but it also affect the ways in which
policy makers and influential bodies respond to the matter.

Using Cynthia Enloe's "the curious feminist" approach, I want to examine
how gender-based violence is understood and represented during conflict,
where it is the military and military-like agents who perpetrate rape
and abuse of civilians and where when traditional understanding of
"victim" and "perpetrator" are less well-defined. In addition, how have
these competing discourses influenced the ways in which the
international community chose to respond through aid programs? Using the
case studies of Rwanda and Bosnia, I will explore the sexual politics of
representation, and assess the strengths and weaknesses of current aid
program responses from select key agencies from a feminist perspective.

This is a work-in-progress presentation of my PhD research on
militarised gender identities and sexual violence during conflict
situation.

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Enquiries re seminar series and suggestions for seminars or panels to
_Tamara.jacka at anu.edu.au <mailto:Tamara.jacka at anu.edu.au>_