The Boat People Character Analysis

Throughout the world millions of people immigrate every year, which is a known fact. However, what is not known is the variety of different treatments that male and female immigrants experience simply because of their gender. “The Boat People” by Sharon Bala provides the reader with the opportunity to examine how intersectionality affects the immigrant experience. Both groups withstand specific challenges and demonstrate resilience in order to make their way into Canada. During this novel, male and female immigrants are portrayed to experience distinct and gender-specific challenges throughout their refugee journey, demonstrating how cultural norms, gender roles, and expectations from society influence the seek for asylum. One large aspect

During times of crisis and war, women are often faced with sexual violence and abuse, compared to men who often face a more brute force. Female immigrants throughout the story were often sexually abused by the soldiers, Hema’s daughter, Tara, for example. Amid one of Hema’s admissibility hearing, she unexpectedly reveals in a fit of rage towards Grace that her daughter was raped. “The women put her hands over her face and Blacker said: They raped my daughter.” (Bala 157). The constant sexualization of the female immigrants made them constantly exploit themselves in order to please the soldiers, often in order to create a ‘good’ impression. “Like the vacant stares of the women who stood at the fence and let the soldiers fondle them in broad daylight” (Bala 366). These quotes illustrate how women in war-torn countries are often under more risk and are in need of more protection and services when immigrating to new countries. In addition, Savitri Kumuran offers Mahindan sexual acts in exchange for documents and identification, proving how corrupt the women had become due to the exploitation they faced. “I don’t have money, she said. But maybe there is something else you want.” (Bala 366). The theme of women being sexually assaulted and mistreated was recurring throughout the novel and provides evidence to display how the abuse was mainly

Women in the novel were let out of detention and passed their admissibility hearings much quicker than any of the men due to the belief that women are less dangerous than men, especially when they are caring for children. Hema was the first immigrant to pass all her hearings and be released into Canadian society simply because she had shown harsh honesty about the horrors her children endured in Sri Lanka. “Word had come, the evening before, that Hema and her daughter’s had passed the admissibility hearing… Hema was proof there was hope to be grasped.” (Bala 168). Stereotypically, men are portrayed as strong characters who are protective over their families and inturn, do not need protection themselves. Bala uses this stereotype to her advantage throughout the novel and makes it clear that the male immigrants were confined for much longer than any female inmate. “By April, a month after Ranga’s death, only a few dozen men remained and Mahindan found it possible once again to venture thoughts of the future.” (Bala 345). Previously, while the immigrants were in Sri Lanka, the Tigers expected one man from each household to join them in order to protect their family. This served as a tactic to gain soldiers and as a way to categorize and stereotype men into their role as a ‘leader’ or ‘protector’. In the duration