Why She Did It: Battle for the Meaning of the Female Suicide Attackers of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Abstract

Suicide bombings are quickly becoming the tactic of choice for resistance groups around the globe, and increasingly, women are becoming the chosen perpetrators. However, the continued strength of gender roles and stereotypes has created resistance to these new roles. This project argues that narratives surrounding the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) female suicide attackers have been politically effective only when they do not depart significantly from traditional conceptions of women. Narratives that depict female suicide attackers in traditional gender roles are contrasted with those of typically masculine roles. Using narrative theory, two case studies are examined: the LTTE's first and last suspected female suicide attackers, Dhanu and Anoja. A deeper understanding of the manipulations of women's images will potentially help us understand the growing trend of female suicide attacks around the world.