Role of Women in the Fight for Kurdistan
Women have played s significant role in defending and fighting for Kurdistan. As part of the liberation for women, Kurdish women have taken up arms when needed in order to preserve their culture and way of life.
Turning point
during the 1970s-80s the role of women within Kurdistan shifted to encompassing all aspects of life in Kurdistan. The liberation of women was officially underway, with this time-period being a vital turning point for Kurdish women.
PKK - Northern Kurdistan
During the 1980s membership of women within the PKK became widespread. Women played the same role as men for one of the first times in Kurdish history which women picking up arms and training and fighting alongside Kurdish men in their struggle. Women were not second to their male counterparts either, they were leading the fight as commanders and tactical leaders.
YPJ - Rojava
In 2013 Kurdish women established the YPJ as an all-women fighting force leading the fight against ISIS within Syria. They demonstrated and still do demonstrate their ability as strong resilient women in the face of adversity.
Fighting included the defence of Kobanî was orchestrated by the YPJ and was one of many examples of the strength of the Kurdish women.
Peshmerga - Iraqi Kurdistan
From the 1960s-1970s women fought in protecting the Kurdish way of life and culture with women having major roles in the infranty, intelligence and medical roles within the Peshmerga.
Women's Liberation
The demand for the liberation of women in Kurdistan came about as part of a large picture within Kurdish society. The need of reformation towards an outdated patriarchal and colonial system, that was designed to press the Kurds, was apart of the larger Kurdish aim.
The Founding Principles
Kurdish women saw that the current way of life feature colonisation in which a patriarchal system through the state was used to subdue and put down the Kurds and Kurdish women
Kurdish society realised that in order to overcome their oppression a truly free society featuring gender equality was paramount to their aim.
Women's Role in Kurdistan
Women in Kurdish have continued to fight towards an equal society with reform and abolitions to: Banning child marriages, honour killings and criminalising domestic abuse.
Rojava has taken a particularly progressive stance on equality through the action of women.
Women in Kurdish regions now play a significant role in governance and politics of the region. Women work within political parties, civil council. They have also created women institutions to ensure the progress made will be maintain in the future and further built upon.
