ABSTRACT
In the turmoil of genocide, women are frequent collateral victims of violence, paying a heavy price to violence almost always devised and orchestrated by men. Given their vulnerable position, women are invariably the victims when patriarchal societies turn violent. This case study examines the experiences of Yezidi women kidnapped by ISIS through the lens of genocide being committed against the entire Yezidi community. It will show how, by sharing their stories, Yezidi survivors of genocidal rape have reshaped traditional concepts of women’s honor, purity, and chastity. Moving the traditional values to accept the imposition of sexual violence from without, this study will demonstrate that they contributed to ending their own isolation and created opportunities for healing and support.
