Refugees, Sexual Violence, and Armed Conflict: The Nuances Between Victims and Agents

Women survivors of sexual violence seeking refuge are disadvantaged because they lack agency in the forced migration process; however, I propose that they exert negotiated agency in their ability to survive and cope with the uncertainty of migration in order to secure their own and their families' safety. This paper examines the conditions that constitute women's limited agency as they interact with structural conditions of immigration that may serve to accommodate privileged immigrants more efficiently. Evidence of the conditions of marginality that derive on a continuum from armed conflict through the forced-migration process stems from general findings in the literature and the author's own experience conducting research and volunteering at both refugee and asylum social-support agencies. Based on this examination, conclusions to this paper identify the pertinence in developing a theoretical, inclusive model of action that can address the agency process of marginalized actors in the refugee and asylum system.