Guerrilla Fighters, Female

Women's participation in guerrilla warfare is long lived and well documented. Guerrilla warfare is defined as a type of unconventional warfare in which smaller groups of irregular forces, often civilians, use mobile tactics such as ambushes and raids to combat larger, better-trained, and regular forces. Guerrilla fighters are those individuals who make up the smaller groups of irregular forces and take part in the planning or execution of the attacks on the regular forces. While terrorist or national separatist groups are sometimes included as guerrilla groups, the distinction herein lies in the fact that guerrilla groups target regular military forces and national separatist and terrorist groups are target civilians or government officials; however, the lines between these types of groups are often blurred.

Guerrilla warfare is widespread, existing in most parts of the world and at most times. Women have participated as fighters in guerrilla conflict in different roles, either directly in combat or in support positions, and are seen as beneficial to the guerrilla group. Often women have undertaken key leadership roles in these guerrilla struggles.

Motivations for participation by women as guerrilla fighters varies based upon the conflict. Women have been motivated by security concerns, through coercion, because of feelings of emancipation, and because of deep attachment to the ideological or cultural goals of the guerrilla group. Participation [Page 651]of women as guerrilla fighters has sometimes led to greater rights for women throughout society.

Even though emancipation for women has often accompanied the involvement of women as guerrillas, women involved in guerrilla warfare have often fought on two fronts, combating the regular military forces pursued by the guerrilla group, while also combating sexism within the ranks of the guerrilla group. After the guerrilla struggle is over, women have also faced difficulty reintegrating into society as they are confronted in their societies with entrenched patriarchy, a social system in which men hold power over women and children.