Theorising women and war in Kurdistan: A feminist and critical perspective

Abstract

In this introductory article to the special issue Women and War in Kurdistan, we connect our topic to feminist theory, to anthropological theory on war and conflict and their long-term consequences, and to theory on gender, nation and (visual) representation. We investigate Kurdish women’s victimisation and marginalisation, but also their resistance and agency as female combatants and women activists, their portrayal by media and scholars, and their self-representation. We offer herewith a critical perspective on militarisation, women’s liberation, and women’s experiences in times of war and peace. We also introduce the five articles in this issue and discuss how they contribute to the study of women and war in two main areas: the wide-reaching effects of war on women’s lives, and the gendered representation and images of war in Kurdistan. ABSTRACT IN KURMANJIBîrdoza jin û şer li Kurdistanê. Perspektîveke femînîst û rexnegirîDi vê nivîsara danasîner a hejmara taybet a li ser Jin û Şer li Kurdistanê de, em mijarê behsê bi bîrdoza femînîst, bîrdoza mirovnasiyê ya şer û pevçûnan û encamên wan yên demdirêj, û bîrdoza zayend, netewe û nîşane (ya ditinî) ve girêdidin. Em li ser vederkirin û mexdûrkirina jinên kurd lêkolînê dikin, her wekî meseleya berxwedan û îradeya şervanên jin û çalakvanên mafên jinan, û pirsên ku çawa medya û lêkolîner qala wan dikin û çawa ew jî xwe didin nîşan. Em her weha perspektîveke li ser leşkerîkirin, azadkirina jinan û tecrubeyên jinan di heyamên şer û aştiyê de pêşberî xwendevanan dikin. Di ber re, em danasîna her pênc nivîsarên vê hejmarê jî dikin û girîngiya wan a ji bo lêkolînên jin û şerî di du warên sereke de guftûgo dikin: encamên berfireh yên şer li ser jiyana jinan, û nîşane û dimenên zayendî yên şer li Kurdistanê. ABSTRACT IN SORANIBe Tiyorîkirdinî rewşî jinan û ceng le Kurdistan: Goşenîgayekî fêmînîstî w rexnegiraneLem çend wutare da, ke melefêkî taybete be jinan û ceng le Kurdistan, hewlman dawe ke kogîrîyek bikeyn le ruwangey fêmînîstî w tiyorîy antropolojî leser ceng û milmilanê w akame dirêjxayenekanyan le layek û herweha tiyorîy regez, netewe w têruwanînî nwênerêtîkirdin le layekî dîke. Ême xwêndineweman kirdûwe bo kêşey bequrbanîbûn û perawêzxistinî jinan. Le heman kat da mijarî berxodan û xorêxistinî jinan wek cengawer û çalakanî mafî jinan û wêney ewan le rageyandin û lenêw lêkolînewe zanistiyekan û têruwanînî xoşyan da. Ême herweha têruwanînî rexnegiraneman leser mijarî çekdarî, azadîy jinan û ezmûnî jinan le katî ceng û aştî da xistote rû. Lem melefe taybete da, pênc wutarman pêşkêş kirdûwe w eweman nîşan dawe keçon le dû layenî giringewe tîşk xirawete ser mijareke: karîgerîy firawanî ceng le ser jiyanî jinan, herweha nuwandin û wêney regezî jinan le ceng le Kurdistan da.

Quality of life of women from families of martyred individuals in the Kurdistan region of Iraq as a conflict area in the Middle East

“…Some were the victims of the 1970 genocide, while others were war prisoners who were hung or tortured to death. Still others left as part of the Kurdish exodus in 1991 or were killed during the fight against Da'ish, the Islamic State's (i.e, ISIS) militant group [7,8]. According to their WHOQOL-BREF score, the results of this study show that the QOL of surviving women in this region is not desirable, even poor, depending on age, educational level, occupation, marital status, and relationship to the martyr.…”

Quality of Life of Kurdish Women from Martyrs’ Families in Kurdistan Region of Iraq as a Middle East Conflict Area

“…Psychological domain and overall QOL and general health had the lowest median (Figure 1). [6,7]. The results show that the quality of life of these women is not desirable and even poor depending on age, educational level, occupation, marital status and relationship to the martyr.…”

Quality of Life of Women from Families of Martyred Individuals in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq as a Conflict Area in the Middle East 

“…Some were the victims of the 1970 genocide, while others were war prisoners who were hung or tortured to death. Still others left as part of the Kurdish exodus in 1991 or were killed during the ght against Da'ish, the Islamic State's (i.e, ISIS) militant group [7,8].…”