The role of women in revolutions: Case study of Syrian women's role in the Syrian revolution from 2011 to 2024

This study explores the role of Syrian women in the Syrian revolution from 2011 to 2024, analyzing their contributions, the challenges they faced, the evolution of their roles over time, and their aspirations for the future. It investigates how women actively shaped revolutionary movements through political activism, humanitarian work, media engagement, and advocacy, despite facing systemic barriers rooted in sociocultural norms, conflict dynamics, and gender-based violence. The research highlights how women's participation transformed in response to evolving conflict conditions, moving from protest organization to leadership roles in civil society, advocacy networks, and humanitarian efforts. The study adopts a descriptive, inductive approach, analyzing quantitative data collected through a structured survey. A total of 470 respondents participated, selected through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods to capture diverse perspectives. Findings reveal that while Syrian women played pivotal roles in various revolutionary fields, their contributions were consistently challenged by gender norms, limited access to leadership, security threats, economic hardships, and marginalization by extremist groups. However, the study also underscores the resilience and adaptability of women in reimagining their activism and expanding their influence into humanitarian, media, and political spheres. Future aspirations expressed by respondents highlight a strong demand for greater inclusion of women in political processes, peacebuilding initiatives, education, economic empowerment, and social change. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intersection between gender, conflict, and political transformation in post-conflict societies. It provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, civil society organizations, and international stakeholders to strengthen women's roles in Syria's recovery and democratization efforts.