Women Without Arms: Gendered Fighter Constructions in Eritrea and Southern Sudan

• Main Author: Annette Weber
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Bielefeld 2011-12-01
• Series: International Journal of Conflict and Violence
• Subjects: insurgency; Horn of Africa; female fighters; Eritrea; South Sudan
• Online Access: http://www.ijcv.org/index.php/ijcv/article/view/114
• ISSN: 1864-1385

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mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} --> <!--[endif] --> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">An analysis of gendered fighter constructions in the liberation movements in Eritrea and southern Sudan (EPLF and SPLA/M), examining the question of female access </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">to the sphere of masculine fighter constructs and the relevance of this for influence in peacetime affairs. Empirical research in both countries, in particular interviews </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">with participants, reveals that what keeps women out of the sphere of legitimized violence is not some “inherent peacefulness,” but the exclusivist construct </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">of the masculine fighter, which is supported by society. This makes it hard for women to participate in war, and especially to gain full fighter status. An intrinsic link is </span><span style="line-height: 20px;">found between fighter status and access to power in post-conflict state-building from which women, being unable to gain full fighter status, are largely excluded.</span></p></p>