Religion, conflict and gender: Reconsidering the triangle

This thesis examines what happens to women's lives when identity-based conflicts turn violent and religion is the main mode of differentiation. Because both armed conflict and religion have been sources for the oppression of women, one could assume that women in these conflicts may be doubly or exponentially oppressed. Yet this is not necessarily the case. In many instances, this study suggests, religion serves a positive role for women living through identity-based armed conflict. Using the conflict in Kashmir as the single case study, in conjunction with six interviews, this paper shows that women in religious identity-based conflict have redefined their roles as women rather than being locked into the traditional roles that might be expected in the religion, conflict, and gender triangle.