Sri Lankan Tamil Refugee Women in India

Abstract

The author describes the situation of
displaced and refugee Sri Lankan Tamil
women in camps in India. Gender, ethnicity,
class status, religion, social roles
and security of the person are central to
this analysis of women's experiences of
war as contrasted with the situation of
men. The significance of clashing cultures
and divergent social norms to the
everyday lives of these women is highlighted.
The plight of these women is
linked to refugee policy and international
conventions that are not salient
to the actual lived experience in the
camps, and some directions for change
are indicated.