'This is the Time to Get in Front': Changing Roles and Opportunities for Women in Liberia

Most research on women in war focuses on female losses. Thisarticle demonstrates that wars may also bring gains. The scopeof political and economic roles that Liberian women performtoday appears to be larger than before the war. Both individuallyand collectively, certain women have gainfully used openingsthe war provided them. The article discusses the historicityof Liberian gender roles, examining the social subgroups ofpoliticians, businesswomen, women's organizations, employees,and school girls. Changes have also been fostered by the internationalpeace-building and development business. Although the realizationof female ambitions seems to be constrained by various institutionaland economic factors, Liberia may harbour a unique potentialfor sustainable shifts in gender roles.