Jineology in Effect: The YPJ and Kurdish Identity in Rojava

The Kurdish nation is an incredibly diverse one in terms of ideologies and perceptions of national identity. Split between Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, the Kurds in each of these states have developed their own national and political ideologies. The Syrian Civil War has created an opportunity for a fascinating case study on the Syrian Kurds and their unique identity. The war in Syria has allowed Rojava, the local name for Syrian Kurdistan, to experience a social revolution. The Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), are Rojava’s all women military organization. The YPJ made news headlines across the Western World in the early days of the Syrian Civil War, as Western audiences were fascinated by the idea of women in the traditionally patriarchal Middle East taking up arms to fight. What was left out of this discussion by both the media and many scholars is the question of why were Kurdish women choosing to fight? My project seeks to answer this question by exploring the ideology behind the YPJ. Using personal testimonies from the YPJ’s fighters and the very limited scholarly research on the topic, I conclude that the YPJ is motivated by and is the embodiment of a unique Kurdish feminist ideology known as Jineology. My presentation will explore Jineology, its effects on Rojava’s identity, and how the YPJ shows Jineology in effect.