Can the Female Rape Survivor of the Sri Lankan Civil War Speak?

• In Event: Sex Offenses and the Media

Abstract

The Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009) was mainly a clash between the Sinhalese dominated government and Tamil Liberation Tigers (LTTE). The use of sexual violence played a pivotal role in fighting the war, as the Sri Lankan state troops used sexual violence as a “weapon of war.” As a result, it left many Tamil female rape survivors in an extremely difficult position, as it violated highly valued notions of chastity and virginity before marriage. When it comes to media, the depictions of these narratives are not complete, and often times their narratives have been misinterpreted. Female rape survivors' depiction within this context is further erased and distorted. Therefore, this research project will examine representation of female rape survivors of Sri Lankan civil war in a cross-range of media. I will examine various genres of feature and documentary films ranging from British, American, Canadian, Indian, and Sri Lankan, which depicts the Sri Lankan survivor in similar and different ways. I will utilize theories of postcolonial and transnational feminist theories. I will provide a content analysis of these movies and documentaries, in essence asking if these survivors “can speak,” or if this representation further silences and marginalizes their experiences.

Author

• Chamanka Sagini Gamage, University at Albany