The
essence of global security relates back to a state or nation’s fundamental need
to be respected and recognized by the international community. Breaches of this need have the ability to
offset the balance of power in a particular region or cause a Darwinian
scenario where more powerful nations exploit the weaknesses of developing
nations. The situation in Somalia is the
perfect example of this type of scenario.
Beginning in the early 1990s, the government of Somalia began to unravel
into a virtually “lawless country” void of military power to protect its
borders (Qasim). This collapse spelled
the decline and forfeiture of its lucrative fishing industry to foreign
poachers “engaged in the illegal exploitation of [Somalia’s] marine resources”
( Dini 1). On the surface the demise of
Somalia's main industry seems more of an economic calamity than a social one;
however, the decline of the country’s livelihood sparked the emergence of
Somali piracy and devastated Somalia’s family structure transforming women’s
roles from caregivers to chattel. Somali
piracy is a prime example of how global economic greed and the dismantling of
core social systems manifest into female subjugation. In a trickle-down effect, Somali piracy has
broken the family unit, incited increased violence against women, altered the
power structure, and militarized the nation--all byproducts of international
greed that wreak havoc on “the overall well being of Somalia’s women” (Dini 1).
The inception of Somali piracy would be nonexistent if larger nations and
states respected the sovereignty of this developing country.
The evident hijacking of Somalia’s fishing
industry by foreign interests forced many Somali men to resort to piracy of
cargo ships in waters off the country’s border.
The result was an influx of foreign money into Somalia and an offsetting
of the power structure both within the country and within the home. Men participating in these illicit activities
garnered all the power to themselves often neglecting their families for
external rewards outside the home. These
rewards include increased drug use, solicitation of additional wives, and
sexual exploitation.
Yet, as men are gaining their own private
wealth from piracy, women are left to provide for their families alone,
especially when men are killed in piracy attempts or abscond with the
ill-gotten funds. Seemingly, Somali
women are at a disadvantage because they ultimately become the target of
misogyny and are “particularly vulnerable to abuse both inside internally
displaced persons camps and as they walk to market, tend to the fields, or
forage for firewood” (HRW.org). Many
women and children do not have a stable homelife with “around 1.4 million people, mostly women
and children, are displaced after being forced to flee their homes” (Qasim). Money
for women and for villagers is stuck in a constant socio-economic downturn
because these Somali men (the pirates and their protectors) are traditionally
the breadwinners and are not only risking their lives, but the security of
their families.
Somalia piracy also manifests itself into serious crimes against
women. The addition of illegal currency
in the country has altered the “social structure” where women do not have ample
opportunities to earn a living or seek an education and thus “can be lured into
becoming chattel or wives of pirates” (Dini 4).
These marriages, in many cases, are fraught with violence including
multiple wives and no resources for women who are caught up in a violent cycle
of abuse. Because most of the country is
indigent, fathers in many cases “marry off their young daughters” to pirates in
exchange for money (Dini 4).. The sudden
impact of wealth for Somali pirates and the the creation of a lawless state
create a perfect storm of sexual exploitation against women. In 2013, the United Nations reported “nearly
800 cases of sexual and gender-based violence in Mogadishu alone for the first
six months of 2013, although the actual number is likely much higher”
(HRW.org).
In geopolitical concerns, piracy prohibits “the delivery of humanitarian
aid to the Horn of Africa,” which provides human security to all of Somalia, a
country with a low GDP per capita (Dini 3). Consequently, women are living in a
“predestined hell”, a direct byproduct of Somali pirates. Aid directed to
Somalia from the UN and other foreign aid agencies is hindered in order to
protect male private interests. Females are raised without proper education and
untraditional societal dynamics where living in fear of being raped has become
a norm. Women “lack access to education, employment, and state protection.
Because of this they remain vulnerable, poor and are susceptible to
exploitation and gender-based violence” (Dini 4). This indication is clear that “piracy is
profit driven: it targets the boats that seem to bring most profit…” and looks
for a target of success (Hansen 27). Women remain impoverished, uneducated, and
domesticated ultimately preventing them from becoming a full citizen. Thus,
this could all be avoided if Somali piracy was not the last resort ultimately
contributing to the mistreatment of women. The industrialized world can take
some responsibility by the actions of these pirates through a breach in global
security in order to ensure the ontological security of Somalia is protected.
Works
Cited
Dini,
Shukria. Burcad badeed - The Implications
of Piracy for Somali Women. PhD dissertation.
www.sidint.net/sites/www.sidint.net/files/docs/SDpaper2.pdf. Accessed 2 Oct.
2017.
Hansen,
Stig Jarle. "Debunking the Piracy Myth: How Illegal Fishing Really
Interacts with Piracy in East Africa." The
Rusi Journal, Jan. 2014. Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.
Human
Rights Watch. "Somalia: Women Shouldn’t Live in Fear of Rape." Human Rights Watch, 13 June 2014,
www.hrw.org/news/2014/02/13/somalia-women-shouldnt-live-fear-rape. Accessed 2
Oct. 2017.
Kurschinski,
Kellen. "Piracy and the Experience of Somali Women by Andrea Hall." Laurier Centre for Military Strategic and
Disarmament Studies, Wilfred Laurier University, 8 Nov. 2013,
canadianmilitaryhistory.ca/piracy-and-the-experience-of-somali-women-by-andrea-hall/.
Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.
Quasim,
Maryan. "The women of Somalia are living in hell." The Guardian, 17 June 2011,
www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/jun/17/women-somalia-hell-worst-world.
Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.
I really enjoyed this analysis of how women are entangled in this cycle of piracy in Somalia. I feel like in many writings and even what is on the news, women are often not reported about; possibly because of the other "more important" security threats in these areas. It is important to recognize how issues like piracy and terrorism have an impact on the family unit which can perpetuate the security issue. Do you think as piracy continues to decrease in Somalia the conditions for women and children will improve, or do you think that an outside force or influence will have to help the Somali government set up these institutions like schools or training facilities?
ReplyDeleteI really loved this assessment of Somali piracy affects on women. You make very valid points about the social roles which women are forced into because of the act of piracy, but also the inability for them to join in on the illegal activity to support themselves. Since women are at a social, political, and economic disadvantage because of piracy, the only solution is to remove the act of piracy from their situation and allow other humanitarian resources to help them grow in their stability.
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