Abstract
In the quagmire of terrorism in Kashmir spanning over a period of nearly three decades innocent women and children have borne the severest brunt. Terrorism is often described in the language/ idiom of 'war', usually by terrorists. Whether or not it is war is an important debate, though, it has caused serious destruction of lives of women, at all levels―physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual. It has wreaked havoc in family and society; gutted all aspirations for status upliftment of women and future generations of Kashmiri Pandits. The dynamic identity of the ‘woman’ as a person has been destroyed irreparably. What bearing do women and children have in terrorism? They are largely at the passive, receiving end of a gigantic patriarchal fury in the face of terrorism, counter-terrorism, violence and crimes that have devastated the social fabric of Kashmir. The research paper will highlight the plight of, mainly, Kashmiri women refugees in Jammu refugee camps and bring out nuanced aspects of gender oppression. When lives of such affected women and their children are studied closely important questions are raised about the existence of patriarchal dominance in society. Patriarchy can be lethal to the extent of total annihilation of women. A male-dominated social order is as much a social-structural problem to reckon with as is the fetishism of terrorism. Terrorism, in perspective, is a mirror image of embedded patriarchy. What is the way out? Do women have viable, dynamic choices? Various gender issues and discourses will be discussed in the research paper.
Author Information
Moniva Sarkar, Panjab University, India
Paper Information
Conference: ACSS2015
Stream: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Gender
This paper is part of the ACSS2015 Conference Proceedings (View)
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