ABSTRACT
Here we present our findings and compare the experiences of the FSLN women and the Contra women. In the end we found that gender in and of itself did very little to determine why women joined either organization. The physical differences between men and women certainly made the combat experience harder for women, but they were no less effective. Despite concerted efforts for female emancipation by the FSLN from its inception, the conclusion drawn from the data collected and analyzed shows that progress was made, but gender inequality persisted, before, during, and after the revaluation. These women joined to fight for justice for their communities (the Nicaraguan people or an indigenous ethnic group), and they were strategic in accordance with their perceptions of their opponents. In the process, they gained a sense of empowerment and ownership in their communities. Nevertheless, the chapter also steps into the present day to discuss the successes and failures or continued limitations on women’s empowerment in Nicaragua.
