ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the question of what constitutes political violence and why this term is purposely utilized rather than terrorism. It views political violence as a much broader category than terrorism. However, while women participated in active combat and support roles in the US Civil War, World War II, and the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, many are still uncomfortable with issue. Feminism can be utilized to critique mainstream political thought which has been viewed as male-centric, since it has been written and analyzed primarily by men for most of human history. Moreover, radical feminism would view political violence, especially warfare, as the folly of men. Marxist feminists are of course mainly concerned with the exploitation of the working class in capitalist societies. The chapter also examines the broad socioeconomic and political changes which were taking place in the particular country.
