Gendered violence and conflict in the Bangladesh–Myanmar borderlands: (trans)local experiences and responses

A protracted refugee crisis has unfolded in the Bangladesh–Myanmar borderlands over the past few decades. Within this context, our paper examines the translocal dynamics of gendered violence that Rohingya refugees are subjected to and compelled to navigate. Drawing on a ‘nested understanding’ of gendered violence that incorporates insights from feminist scholarship, peace and conflict studies and human geography, we undertake three analytical steps. First, we examine how violent conflict, displacement, containment and marginalisation, as well as growing insecurity driven by the rising influence of armed groups, have created conditions conducive to gendered violence. Second, we demonstrate how Rohingya women have persistently been subjected to diverse forms of gender-based violence throughout their lives and displacement trajectories, and how they cope with such traumatic experiences and which strategies they employ to protect themselves. Third, we identify new forms of gendered violence that Rohingya men are confronted with, particularly forced recruitment into armed groups, which has significant repercussions for both men and women, and the wider Rohingya community. In light of these findings, we contend that an explanation of gendered violence in Bangladesh’s refugee camps cannot be limited to an analysis of local conditions alone. Rather, it must also account for the disruptive ‘cascades of violence’ across borders as well as the contestations of power relations and gender roles. This necessitates a translocal perspective that recognises displaced people’s agency while acknowledging the violent orders of borderlands.