Rape: Weapon of War and Genocide

by Carol Rittner (Editor), John K. Roth (Editor)

Here is a volume that cries out to be read by everyone. It is filled with "texts of terror" that must be heard if the human community is truly to respond "Never again!" --Margaret A. Farley, Gilbert L. Stark Professor Emerita of Christian Ethics, Yale University Divinity School. . . One of the most nuanced, illuminating, and grimly engaging volumes on rape and mass violence yet published. -- Adam Jones, Executive Director, Gendercide Watch, Author, A Comprehensive Introduction Carol Rittner and John K. Roth have brought together a range of very powerful contributions on rape in war and genocide . . . Each chapter deals very personally with the agony of rape and the challenges it poses to male behavior, international law, and political action. -- Hugo Slim, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict, University of Oxford, Author, Killing Method, Madness and Morality in War Resist the urge to put this book down. It . . . calls us to listen to the living and the dead, to their words and their silence. -- Doris L. Bergen, Chancellor Rose and Ray Wolfe Professor of Holocaust Studies, University of Toronto, Author, War and A Concise History of the Holocaust

Genres: Nonfiction, History, War

320 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2012

About the author

Carol Rittner is an American nun and Holocaust historian. She is a Distinguished Emerita Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Dr. Marsha Raticoff Grossman Professor of Holocaust Studies at Stockton University.

Reviews

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the toughest books to get through, but this was so informative and inspiring despite the heart-wrenching material. I'm not sure I can fully wrap my head around what I read. 5

[Laurie Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rape: Weapon of War and Genocide is a collection of essays dealing with the use of rape during genocide and war in the twenty-first century. The essays range from topics dealing with the evolution of the criminalization of rape in the legal sphere; the purpose of rape and how it is used as a form of genocide; the use of rape in countries such as Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Guatemala; and the problematic issue of justice for survivors of sexual violence during conflict. I can honestly say that this was one of the most devastating, heartbreaking, difficult and important books I have ever read.

By reading this book I was able to learn more about how rape is used as a weapon of genocide. I was horrified to learn about the rape camps that were established in Yugoslavia and the ruthlessness of the army as they terrorized women. I also learned through the book that in Rwanda, women were repeatedly gang raped and often raped to death by the Interahamwe. They would rape the young and the old; their heartlessness had no limits. The brutality of their actions was incredibly difficult to read. The fact that they would stick the sharpened end of sticks into women, cut the women all over with knives and stuff food into their vaginas is unimaginable and absolutely deplorable. Pascasie Mukasakindi recalls her experience during the genocide. She states, "men raped me, one by one. Even the youngest ones in the group raped me, and they looked like they were no older than thirteen. Almost fifty men raped me in one day...After they were done raping me, they shoved a nailed club into my vagina...They tortured me in so many cruel ways..." In Guatemala, Mayan women were tortured, raped, mutilated and murdered in the most barbaric ways. At this very moment women in the DRC are being repeatedly raped and left with severe physical and emotional wounds. One woman laments that she was raped by three men until her womb fell out and two years later by five men leaving her with worse internal damage. Her husband left her because of the first rape- he believed her to be "contaminated"- and now she is struggling to provide for her children since she is doing it all on her own and weaker as a result of the rapes.

The survivors of sexual violence face many challenges and it is incredibly heartbreaking. The trauma they endured leaves the women feeling depressed, full of shame and fear, and suffering from nightmares. One author states that "a violated woman is considered 'damaged'" and is often "rejected by husbands and to varying degrees by family, friends, and villages." The situation of the women is made even more painful because "it is common for raped women to be victimized again, publicly by individuals who hurl taunts and insulting remarks at them or privately by husbands who shame them with verbal and sometimes physical abuse."

Reading about the atrocities inflicted on women, I once again struggled with the "why" of it all. What is the purpose of such deliberate cruelty? Various essays in the book gave me insight into the "why" of it.

I really liked that at the end of each chapter, there were suggestions for further readings and a list of references at the end of the book for those who would like to do more research on this topic. I also liked that some of the chapters included ways ordinary people can take action to put an end to sexual violence being committed today. I have already conducted my own research based on those references and am learning so much. I plan to seek ways to take action thanks to this book.

I highly highly recommend this book. It is a very difficult read but so important for us to learn the truth and take action.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this collection of essays, spanning years and various examples of rape in war, contains heavily distressing content, their message is fascinating. Each essay is wonderfully crafted, many containing fantastic feminist commentary and volumes of useful information. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to broaden their mind to the atrocities committed throughout some of the world’s most poignant 20th century conflicts as well as to further understand the effects and motives behind rape as a weapon of war and genocide.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally I was seeking more information for my Holocaust Studies course, but I think I'm going to build an individual unit regarding sexual violence in conflict for all my classes. This book covers a great range of examples and I found the timeline of policy progress (or lack thereof) very helpful.

I would have appreciated further sociological and psychological breakdowns. The book focuses primarily on specific instances of conflict and the chapters contained many sample works as analysis versus focusing on the author's critique, which I don't know if I prefer.

Overall I believe this is an important text which needs further global utilization.

[LaanSiBB]

Rape itself is confronting enough to go through, but our social forgetfulness for multi-outcomes of rape is even rougher. The event is usually shaped as patriotic justification instead of instrumental consideration, where the planned genocide is the real trauma for victims. The systematic aftermath of war has not only revealed the destruction of families of raped victims, but also the radical need for change to liberate women for equal rights and power.

[Pia Jormel *manosalaobra_apn*]

I don't read non fiction but I need to learn more about this topic. A romance book made me look up for more on Amazon about this topic and this is what appeared.

[char · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Eileen Linchangco · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tough read with many trigger warnings but an important one nonetheless with specific cases and interdisciplinary approaches to show how rape is used as a weapon in times of genocide.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A disturbing subject matter that is not for the faint-hearted, this book is an eye opener.