Women’s Wings in Rebel Organisations: Prevalence, Purposes and Variations

Women's wings are a common feature of rebellions but we lack a systematic accounting of how women organise themselves or are organised within and across armed groups. In this article we describe the functions of and variation across women's wings globally. We identify significant variation in the types, purposes, and autonomy of women's wings inside and between groups. We also highlight similarities across units, including their role in mobilising women into conflict, pressing for reforms, and creating leadership opportunities. We demonstrate that women's wings are diverse yet important sites for gendered power, negotiation, activity, and outreach within rebellions.