This book exposes the different ways in which violent conflicts increase patriarchal controls on women and the impact of militarisation on women and men, on masculinities and femininities. In all the societies and communities under discussion in the five countries, the authors point to the different ways in which women react and respond to the conflict. They become victims of various acts of repression and abuse. The book exposes that even armed militant women choose to respond to violence with violence. On the other side militants mothers respond to violence with non-violent means of political agitation. The authors articulate a general position on the need to redefine democracy within the South Asian context, in a way which recognises minority rights and acknowledges the nature of all South Asian states as multicultural and multinational. Within this overarching framework, the authors see womens involvement in militancy and in peace building as enabling a new construction of democracy, human rights and citizenship. The need for a re conceptualisation of security to mean human security and peace with justice, rights and equality is both advocated and emphasised. In this process, the authors address the need to begin to de-construct the exercise of masculinist power in its different forms, especially as played out in war and conflict. Published in association with Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Colombo.