The last few days I have read a string of articles that reiterate in my mind the close connection between sex and disaster. I remember reading a book once in my 20th Century American Wars class in college, which talked about the relationship between sex and the brutal savagery of war. For some reason in the midst of an inhuman situation, a significant portion of the population becomes aroused and often times crosses the line into sexual deviancy. If anyone can point me to a specific study I’d appreciate it but in my view there is already anecdotal evidence in the wake of the Tsunami disaster. From the AP (thanks for the tip Julie T):
A teenager who escaped death but was left orphaned and homeless by the Asian tsunami met yet one more agony: gang rape, one of several cases of child abuse being investigated in the disaster zone, an official said.
Of all the human tragedies emerging from the worst natural disaster in decades, sexual abuse of vulnerable children in refugee camps must be among the most shocking.
… But psychological and behavioral problems are certain to become more important as the authorities gain control over the life-threatening issues.
De Silva said his governmental agency already is investigating several complaints of sexual abuse in centers housing tens of thousands of survivors.
So far, the cases of suspected abuse have been isolated. But officials are concerned that the trauma of the catastrophe, coupled with the close quarters in the refugee centers, could spawn many more cases.
“In the aftermath of displacement and shock you do see an increase of abuse and violence against women and children,” said Ted Chaiban, head of the U.N. children’s agency in Colombo.
With the huge number of orphans, the worst elements of society are out and practicing their trade:
Text messages offering to sell hundreds of Indonesian orphans into sexual slavery are fueling fears that pedophile rings are prowling the tsunami-ravaged region.
“Three hundred orphans aged 3-10 years from Aceh for adoption,” read the message that appeared yesterday on the cell phone of a UNICEF worker in nearby Malaysia.
“All paperwork will be taken care of. No fee. Please state age and sex of child required.”
Pervscan.com offers what it considers a “positive” development involving sex and the Tsunami:
While three days does not seem like a particularly long time to mourn when you’ve seen your best friend squashed by a ton of metal, you can’t forget that these sex workers are probably in dire need of money. It’s hard to blame them for working to fulfill their needs, especially when the tsunami doesn’t seem to have cast a wet blanket over the libidinal needs of Western tourists:
“Meanwhile, the Thai resort of Patong Beach was getting back to business yesterday. Two days after more than 60 people drowned, the bars re-opened and girls went back to work entertaining male tourists. A British holidaymaker, who described himself as a plumber and heating engineer and who had been in Patong for two months, said: ‘You can’t stop the sex trade. There’s people that’s addicted to it.‘” —The Mirror (UK)
On a more uplifting note, sex workers are trying not just to provide for themselves but also to make larger contributions. For example, in India, hookers are donating their wages to the relief effort:
“Sex workers in Ahmednagar and the district have come forward to donate over Rs 13,000 — their day’s earning — as a humanitarian gesture for those affected by Tsunami tidal waves in southern India. The women, under the banner of Snehalaya, an organisation working for women in flesh trade and their children, have already sent Rs 10,000 to the Prime Minister’s Relief fund, according to Snehalaya trustee P S Savedker. Further, the prostitutes and flesh workers from various red light areas of the city on Tuesday handed over a cheque of Rs 3,475 to the local Indian Express Citizens Relief Fund branch, he said.” —Sify News (India)
I realize that the situations I have pointed to in this entry are happening all the time and are not new problems created only subsequent to the Tsunami. Sill, I think it takes a certain level of depravity or numbness to exploit a tragedy like this, and I believe that in some it can be induced by virtue of a doomsday ethos in which nothing matters anymore.