War rape survivors of the Second Congo War: A perspective from symbolic convergence theory

Abstract

This paper examines actions and narratives of war rape survivors of the Second Congo War. The Second Congo War, which officially began in 1998, is an enduring armed struggle that involves more than fighting for mineral resources. It also involves massive attacks against women (i.e. by engaging in the systematic rape of women). The theoretical framework used in this analysis is symbolic convergence theory (SCT). Coined by Bormann [1972. “Fantasy and Rhetorical Vision: The Rhetorical Criticism of Social Reality.” Quarterly Journal of Speech 58: 396–407], SCT postulates that group consciousness is achieved when a group shares emotions, experiences, and stories. SCT regards group cohesion as a result of rhetorical visions by delivering a collective objective through fantasy themes, fantasy types, symbolic cues, and sagas. An important conclusion of this analysis is that, through various forms of symbolic convergence and fantasies, Congolese women are able to cope with the reality of war rape and ‘navigate’ (in the best way they can) in today's society. In other words, SCT helps to explain how rape survivors find ways to mitigate their own suffering.