Polymorphous Discrimination: Rohingya Women in the Goggles of Intersectionality

20 Pages Posted: 1 Apr 2020 Last revised: 13 Apr 2020

See all articles by Shadrack Bentil

Shadrack Bentil

University of Bremen

Edmund Poku Adu

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: February 22, 2020

Abstract

“Racism, xenophobia and unfair discrimination have spawned slavery, when human beings have bought and sold and owned and branded fellow human beings as if they were so many beasts of burden.” Desmond Tutu.

The fact remains that global displacement is at a record high. Although many people cite violence and conflict as notable contributing factor to this humanitarian crises, it must be borne in mind that conflict does not just emerge. There are always subtle bombs awaiting triggers. An important condition that can fuel and sustain violent conflicts is the issue of systemic discrimination. But it remains a puzzle whether the world has really come to terms with the fact that discrimination (injustice anywhere) threatens justice everywhere. For this reason, the article attempted to apply intersectionality theory to the ordeal of Rohingya women in Rakhine State in Myanmar to identify the grounds on which Rohingya women are methodically discriminated. The paper revealed multi-faceted structural discrimination embedded in the social and cultural structures; religion and ethnicity (sexual violence); and legal, political and economic structures. These structures or conditions combines to exacerbate the burden of Rohingya women and children and often result in their displacement or forced asylum.

Keywords: Intersectionality, Rohingyas, Women, Discrimination, Social theory, Gender

Suggested Citation

Bentil, Shadrack and Adu, Edmund Poku, Polymorphous Discrimination: Rohingya Women in the Goggles of Intersectionality (February 22, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3542688 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3542688

Shadrack Bentil (Contact Author)

University of Bremen ( email )

Institute for Intercultural and Int’nal Studies
Bremen, +49
Germany

Edmund Poku Adu

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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