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Jlortlanh (Dbseruer
June I, 2011
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International Monetary Fund’s Assault on Women
Arrest is
shocking and
deeply symbolic
by
C hristine A hn
AND K \ VITA RAMDAS
A grand jury has indicted Do­
minique Strauss-Kahn on seven
counts, including the attempted
rape of a Manhattan hotel worker.
Following his alleged attack on
the Guinean immigrant as she tried
to clean up his $3,000-per-night
M anhattan hotel suite, the
Frenchman’s history of treating
women as expendable sex objects
is just coming to light.
The dramatic alleged assault of
an African woman — reportedly a
32-year-old widow and single
mother who won political asylum
— by the disgraced former head
of the world's most powerful fi­
nancial institution, the Interna­
tional Monetary Fund, is shock­
ing and deeply symbolic.
It highlights how, for many in
the developing world, the fund's
draconian policies have system­
atically "raped" the poor and vio­
lated women's rights. The fallen
IMF chiefs disrespect for women
is consistent with the gender bias
inherent in the institution's poli­
cies.
The IMF and the World Bank 1997, South Korea received $57 are tired of hospitals not having
are charged with promoting inter­ billion in loans in exchange for rape kits. They are tired of report­
national trade and monetary co­ IMF demands that the country ing rape, then being charged for
operation by giving governments slash wages and fire "surplus adultery in Iran, Pakistan, and
loans during severe budget cri­ workers." When the financial cri­ Saudi Arabia.
ses. In exchange, the IMF typi­ sis hit, seven Korean women were
Strauss-Kahn's alleged victim
cally requires that governments laid off for every one Korean man. refused to be intimidated. She
enact strict austerity measures. In a sick twist, the Korean govern­ stood up for herself. She fought
The Fund often presses for ex­ ment launched a "get your hus­ to free herself — twice — from the
ports over local production for band energized" campaign encour­ violent grip of the man attacking
local consumption, lower tariffs, aging women to support de­ her. She didn't care who he was —
and cuts in education, health, and pressed male partners while they she knew she was violated and
other social spending. This leads cooked, cleaned, and cared for she reported it straight to the hotel
to cuts in public services and everyone.
staff, who went straight to law
public sector jo b s, which
Meanwhile, women's rights ac­ enforcem ent, who plucked
disproportionally affect women. tivists around the globe are con­ Strauss-Kahn from his first-class
Instead of reducing poverty, IMF sistently dumbfounded that vio­ Air France seat.
loans often deepen poverty, es­ lations of women's bodies are rou­
In a world where it often feels
pecially for women, who comprise tinely dismissed as minor trans­ as though wealth and power can
70 percent of the world's poor.
gressions. Strauss-Kahn, whose buy anything, the courage of this
For example, in exchange for decisions affected millions across woman and the people who stood
IMF and World Bank loans, Tan­ the globe, was known for forcing by her are reassuring. These stub­
zania agreed to impose fees for himself on younger women and born, ethical acts of working class
health services, which led to fewer subordinates vulnerable to his people in New York City illustrate
women seeking hospital deliver­ influence and clout. Yet he man­ the right women have to say "no."
ies or post-natal care. Naturally, aged to retain his power and was
It would be a great thing indeed
more mothers died after giving touted as a strong contender for if Strauss-Kahn's trial succeeds
birth. In Zambia, the conditions the French presidency.
in ending the world's tolerance for
the Fund and the Bank imposed in
We live in a world where mil­ the discrimination against and
exchange for their support led to lions of women don't tell their dark abuse of women at every level.
a significant drop in girls' enroll­ stories or reveal the horrors they
Christine Ahn is a columnist
ment in schools and a spike in face because they were born and the senior policy and re­
"survival or subsistence sex" women. They are tired of men like search analyst at the Global Fund
among young women who wanted Strauss-Kahn, powerful and in fo r Women. Kavita N. Ramdas is a
an education.
suits, believing that they can rape visiting scholar at Stanford Uni­
IMF austerity measures apply a black woman in a hotel room, versity and the former president
in more affluent countries too. In just because they feel like it. They o f the Global Fund fo r Women.