Beyond the Frontlines: Female Combatants as Champions for Gender Equality

Abstract

Post-war improvements in gender equality have been attributed to the disruptive effects of war on society, the ideology of armed groups, as well as gender-inclusive peace agreements. The present study adds to this literature by examining the effects of intergroup contact: the proportion of female combatants in rebel groups is assessed as a driver for post-war improvements in women’s rights. The relationship is analyzed using a dyadic dataset from 1946 to 2015 and a multivariate regression that is complemented by a series of robustness checks. The statistical analysis shows that there is no support for the argument put forward. Moreover, the calculation of the cases and the general data availability constitute a major limitation to the validity of the dataset. Although the findings do not support the initial hypothesis, this study opens up a new puzzle by questioning previous findings regarding post-war improvements in women’s rights.