Identity Transformation and Reintegration Among Ethiopian Women War Veterans: A Feminist Analysis

Ethiopian women in the Tigray People's Liberation Front developed a collective identity during the civil war, including androgynous attitudes and behavior that defied traditional gender norms. After the war, they were demobilized and left on their own to re-adjust to civilian life. Interviews w...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of feminist family therapy 2011-07, Vol.23 (3-4), p.163-187
Main Authors: Negewo-Oda, Beza, White, Aaronette M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Attitudes
Ethiopia
Ethiopian women
Females
Feminism
feminist family research
feminist psychotherapy
feminist research
Gender identity
Identity
Liability
military family
Reintegration
Sex Role Identity
Social Integration
Tigray People's Liberation Front
Veterans
War
war veterans
Women
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Ethiopian women in the Tigray People's Liberation Front developed a collective identity during the civil war, including androgynous attitudes and behavior that defied traditional gender norms. After the war, they were demobilized and left on their own to re-adjust to civilian life. Interviews with 20 such women veterans suggest that all were integrated into society economically, and to some degree socially, but political integration was minimal. Social integration was facilitated when they saw their fighter identity as an asset rather than a liability. Viewing the post-war "fighter identity" as a liminal gender identity may help such women mine the strengths gained from their transformative war experiences.
ISSN:0895-2833
1540-4099
DOI:10.1080/08952833.2011.604536