Women and Girls at War: Wives, Mothers, and Fighters in the Lord s Resistance Army

Jeannie Annan (), Christopher Blattman, Dyan Mazurana () and Khristopher Carlson ()
Additional contact information
Jeannie Annan: International Rescue Committee
Dyan Mazurana: Tufts University
Khristopher Carlson: Tufts University

No 63, HiCN Working Papers from Households in Conflict Network

Abstract: Data from Uganda challenge conventional notions about the role of females during and after war. Women and girls recruited by the LRA play active roles and are not passive victims. We show how LRA treatment of females especially strict rules against civilian rape and the use of forced marriage serves an instrumental purpose, enhancing control of the forces and protection from HIV. Finally, in contrast to conventional beliefs, we find that only a minority of females exhibit serious psychosocial reintegration difficulties, whether psychological distress or persistent community and family rejection. Abduction also has little adverse impact on their education and economic activity, although this is largely because of the tragic dearth of opportunities for all females. Evidence from a growing set of cases suggests that these patterns may be of general relevance, and imply need for a shift in post-conflict policy towards females in war.

Keywords: Armed conflict; Civil conflict; Household welfare; Transmission mechanism; Coping mechanism; Remittances (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E2 H5 H7 I3 Z1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2009-10
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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