Genocide Memorialization in Rwanda: Sexual Violence & Emotional and Reflective spaces
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2025-06-25
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en
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There is a growing scientific literature on the memorialization of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, with a focus on the sexual violence narratives. This thesis analyses both official genocide memorials and community-based memorial practices and their in- or exclusion of sexual violence. Additionally, this thesis examines the emotional and reflective spaces that the memorials create for visitors. Through qualitative research methods including interviews, participant observations and artistic and literary analysis, this thesis reveals a discrepancy between feminist goals of transparency of sexual violence and the cultural boundaries of Rwandan society. Survivors of the Genocide against the Tutsi highlight an incomplete portrayal of the experience of women, but argue that a more detailed narrative would not benefit the Rwandan society, as is expected by international scholars and memorial visitors.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen