Citation

Vázquez N. Reprod. Health Matters 1997; 5(9): 139-146.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1997, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/S0968-8080(97)90017-3

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Urban and rural women played a significant part in the armed struggle in El Salvador between 1981 and 1992. It has been estimated that women constituted 60 per cent of those providing logistical support for the Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation (FMLN), and 30 per cent of their armed combatants. Qualitative research shows that women involved with the FMLN went through major changes in their experience as women. This paper describes the impact of the war on women's sexuality and relationships; traditional gender images; women's experiences of gender violence; and motherhood. It argues that women's situations since the war have not changed as radically as others have suggested, which has compounded the difficulties of coming to terms with their experiences of war. They need ethical, ideological and political points of reference to help them understand their experiences with the FMLN in a positive way, and to re-affirm their own value and make sense of their lives.