Female Ex-combatants' lived experiences

Female participation in the military and even in other spheres of public life has long been culturally and socially constrained in many societies. In Africa, women have often been socially perceived as mothers and caretakers and as such, their roles have in many instances been limited to the domestic sphere. Although this culture is gradually changing as more women begin to access roles in the public sphere, including the military, studies seem to indicate that military work is still considered a male domain. Although women around the world have been actively participating in wars as fighters and they have gained high ranks. Females are demobilized first when war ends. Hence female ex-combatants are struggling to reintegrate socially into society once they have completed their military service. This study examined female ex-combatants' lived experiences in Rwanda and their communities' perceptions towards them. Specifically by exploring the impact of having been an ex-combatant on women's self-concept and social relationships, identify the specific gender issues facing female ex-combatants in the reintegration process.