Gender, Militarism, and Resistance: An Analysis of Afghan and Kashmiri Women’s Struggles

Abstract

This comparative study examines the resistance movements of Muslim women in Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir, who confront structural injustices rooted in patriarchy and the pervasive impact of decades of militarism and militarization. The research explores why Muslim women in these regions are resisting both the state and societal norms, and how militarism has shaped their lives. The study employs a qualitative methodology, grounded in interpretivism as the ontological position and a feminist standpoint as the epistemological framework. Data were collected from secondary sources and analyzed using feminist content analysis. The findings reveal that militarism has significantly undermined women's agency, creating barriers to their mobility, education, employment, and economic participation. The research concludes that recognizing the suffering of women in these contexts is crucial for advancing women's rights, with a focus on the implementation of UNSCR 1325 in Afghanistan and Kashmir.