The Kurdish Women's Movement: History, Theory, Practice

by Dilar Dirik

'One the foremost writers and participants in the Kurdish women's movement' - Harsha Walia

The Kurdish women's movement is at the heart of one of the most exciting revolutionary experiments in the world Rojava. Forged over decades of struggle, most recently in the fight against ISIS, Rojava embodies a radical commitment to ecology, democracy and women's liberation. But while striking images of Kurdish women in military fatigues proliferate, a true understanding of the women's movement remains elusive.

Taking apart the superficial and Orientalist frameworks that dominate, Dilar Dirik offers instead an empirically rich account of the women's movement in Kurdistan. Drawing on original research and ethnographic fieldwork, she surveys the movement's historical origins, ideological evolution, and political practice over the past forty years. Going beyond abstract ideas, Dirik locates the movement's culture and ideology in its concrete work for women's revolution in the here and now.

Taking the reader from the guerrilla camps in the mountains to radical women's academies and self-organised refugee camps, readers around the world can engage with the revolution in Kurdistan, both theoretically and practically, as a vital touchstone in the wider struggle for a militant anti-fascist, anti-capitalist feminist internationalism.

Genres: History, Feminism, Politics, Nonfiction, War, Academia, Gender and Sexuality

384 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2022

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unambigously one of the most important books of the century, and for centuries to come.

This book captures a revolutionary spirit — of the Kurdish women's movement, and of the Kurdish Freedom Movement in general — direly needed in these dire times. A spirit committed to decolonizing life from capitalist modernity and all its bullshit.

At some point I'll probably write a lengthy review and praise, but for now I'll leave you with a paragraph from this book that I've been using as an affirmation ever since:

“. . . this book consciously centres stories of resistance and victory. Not because things are perfect, but because things are possible – through faith and struggle.”

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished this beauty after taking a break for a bit! This is a truly wonderful book, the sort of academic research that is essential and alive and clearly written as part of a larger movement. Throughout, I was so so so impressed by Dirik’s fieldwork and the women she was able to speak to, plus the sense of the cities and land that she was able to convey.

I appreciated that Dirik wrote about the complex sticking points in the revolutionary society of Rojava rather than smoothing them over. It helps give a sense of what the barriers to success can be in liberated social formations, and what might work to help fix them. I’m a bit sick of the simplistic view of the world as black and white, good and evil, and so glad this account rejected binaries while still calling evil by its name.

Probably my favorite parts of the book dealt with the idea of struggle. What it means, how it’s done. That it can be the basis of living. That it can be joyful. That struggling together is a better framework than “solidarity.”

[Harris]

Best book I read this year?

[Pe · Rating 5 out of 5]

ive been waiting for this book my whole life

[Pepa · Rating 4 out of 5]

“EL MOVIMENT DE DONES DEL KURDISTAN”. Dilar Kirik. 2021. Ed. Tigre de Paper. 500p.

Mujeres Kurdas: Un Poderoso Testimonio de Resistencia y Organización.

Y un placer lector poder comentarla en el club de lectura feminista de @drac_magic.

Lectura exigente y muchas veces incómoda cuando la lees desde tu sillón mientras tu pareja te prepara la cena y los niños juegan felices en la terraza.

Porque al otro lado del mundo hay una revolución.

Un movimiento que desafía siglos de tradición patriarcal. A través de las páginas se despliega ante nosotros una crónica de su historia, teoría y organización, mostrando la lucha cotidiana que enfrentan las mujeres en una cultura marcada por la opresión de género.

Es inevitable sentir una mezcla de admiración e impotencia al leer estas páginas. Admiración por la valentía y la determinación de estas mujeres, que se niegan a ser silenciadas por el patriarcado, las fronteras y la política que las rodea. Impotencia al confrontar la realidad de que, en tantas partes del mundo, las mujeres siguen luchando una batalla por la autonomía, autodeterminación, educación, pensamiento crítico, cuidado del medio ambiente y libertad de expresión.

¿Qué puedo hacer yo? Esta es la pregunta que resuena al final de la lectura. Una pregunta que no tiene una respuesta fácil. Pero no podemos permitirnos quedarnos en la pasividad. Podemos educarnos, amplificar las voces de aquellas que son silenciadas, apoyar organizaciones que trabajan por la igualdad de género y desafiar las estructuras de poder que perpetúan la opresión.

Desde luego, el primer paso es conocer la situación. No quedarnos con lo que nos muestran los medios de comunicación.

En segundo lugar, pensar que, aunque nosotros lo tenemos mucho más fácil, no debemos dejarnos engañar con esta falsa sensación de libertad.

En tercer lugar, buscar espacios de comunicación, donde de manera colectiva realizar propuestas. Ponernos en contacto que personas que trabajen en este ámbito. Movilizarnos, dar voz a su voz.

Quizás más libros como éste y reseñas como ésta, en la que espero remover un poco e invitar al cambio.

La revolución empieza dentro de cada uno, pero la hacemos entre todos.

[Crooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would give it 6 stars if I could. So amazing.

[Hielogratis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it by parts makes it easier, it’s a heavy book in it’s content.

[Josh Kahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frickin brutal.