Why Women Rebel: Understanding Women's Participation in Armed Rebel Groups (Routledge Studies in Gender and Global Politics)

Why Women Rebel presents a global analysis of the extent to which women are engaged in armed, organized rebellions, and why they choose to join such rebellions. Henshaw has collected and analyzed data on women’s participation in over 70 post-Cold War rebel groups. The book provides a theoretical analysis drawing upon both mainstream literature in the social sciences and critical, feminist inquiry on women and political violence to offer a new gendered theory on why women rebel. The book reveals that women are active in over half of all rebel groups sampled and that, while the majority of rebel groups have women serving in support roles away from direct combat, approximately a third of these groups employ women in the conduct of armed attacks, and just over a quarter have women in a leadership capacity. Henshaw reaffirms the idea that women are more likely to be engaged in left-wing political organizations, but does suggest that more conservative or traditional movements may also successfully incorporate women by appealing to concerns about community rights. Addressing several gaps in the current literature on this topic, this book will be of interest to academics in the fields of political science, international relations, security studies, and gender and women’s studies. Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- List of illustrations -- Acknowledgement -- Abbreviations -- 1. Introduction and overview -- Women, war, and rebellion: the scope of the volume -- Methodology and feminist security studies -- Structure of the book -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 2. A combatant by any other name: Assessing what women do in war -- An examination of tasks: a horizontal axis -- Rank and status: a vertical axis -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 3. Comparing mainstream and feminist theories on rebellion -- Gender, power, and structure in non-state armed groups -- Theories of grievance through a feminist lens -- Selective incentives through a gendered lens -- Conclusion: a gendered theory of rebellion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 4. Where women rebel: A cross-national analysis of women's participation in armed rebel groups -- Women in armed rebellion: what we think we know -- A global overview of women in rebel groups -- Regional patterns of female engagement -- Forced participation and the role of women -- The gendered labor of rebellion -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 5. Why women rebel: An analysis of women's participation in rank-and-file roles -- Testing a gendered theory of rebellion -- Exploring human security and recruitment -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 6. Where women lead: Gender and leadership in armed rebel groups -- Why leadership matters -- Women as leaders in armed rebel groups: cross-national patterns -- Gender, ideology, and leadership in insurgent groups -- Escalators, glass ceilings, and critical mass: exploring paths to leadership -- Notes -- Bibliography -- 7. Summary and conclusions -- Beyond the data: women and the Islamic State -- Extensions: women, insurgency, and conflict resolution -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index Why Women Rebel Presents A Global Analysis Of The Extent To Which Women Are Engaged In Armed, Organized Rebellions, And Why They Choose To Join Such Rebellions. Henshaw Has Collected And Analyzed Data On Women's Participation In Over 70 Post-cold War Rebel Groups And Provides A Theoretical Analysis Drawing Upon Both Mainstream Literature In The Social Sciences And Critical, Feminist Inquiry On Women And Political Violence To Offer A New Gendered Theory On Why Women Rebel. The Book Demonstrates That Women Are Active In Well Over Half Of All Rebel Groups Sampled And That, While The Majority Of Rebel Groups Have Women Serving In Support Roles Away From Direct Combat, Approximately A Third Of Groups Employ Women In The Conduct Of Armed Attacks, And Just Over A Quarter Have Women In A Leadership Capacity. Henshaw Reaffirms The Idea That Women Are More Likely To Be Engaged In Left-wing Political Organizations, But Does Suggest That More Conservative Or Traditional Movements May Also Successfully Incorporate Women By Appealing To Concerns About Community Rights.0this Book Will Be Of Interest To Academics In The Fields Of Political Science, International Relations, Security Studies, And Gender And Women's Studies. 1. Introduction And Overview -- 2. A Combatant By Any Other Name : Assessing What Women Do In War -- 3. Comparing Mainstream And Feminist Theories On Rebellion -- 4. Where Women Rebel : A Cross-national Analysis Of Women's Participation In Armed Rebel Groups -- 5. Why Women Rebel : An Analysis Of Women's Participation In Rank-and-file Roles -- 6. Where Women Lead : Gender And Leadership In Armed Rebel Groups -- 7. Summary And Conclusions. Alexis Leanna Henshaw. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book presents a global analysis of the extent to which women are engaged in armed, organized rebellions, and why they choose to join such rebellions.