"A compelling, well-argued, and well-written comparative study of female militants in five South Asian countries. Professor Ray's impressive command of the theoretical and contextual literature and empirical evidence sets this book apart in its understanding of the dynamics of violence in this critical region." —Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown UniversityThough often portrayed as lacking agency, women in South Asia, in considerable numbers, participate actively in the insurgencies that plague the region—taking up arms alongside men or facilitating recruitment and operations. What compels them to do so? And what roles do they play? Ayesha Ray answers these question by exploring women’s involvement in violent revolutionary and Islamist movements across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.