Female Property Rights and Revolutions

Through comparative case studies, this paper explores the implications of violent versus nonviolent revolutions on women’s private property rights. Theory and evidence suggest civil resistance movements are more likely to protect women’s property rights by attracting diverse participation, maintaining accountability, and enabling bargaining with authorities. However, merely using nonviolent tactics does not guarantee rights expansions if cultural biases persist. Case studies on Greece, Iran, Cuba, and Costa Rica illustrate these dynamics. The analysis contributes to understanding the connections between conflict, political change, gender, and property rights.