What would we learn about rebel governance and civil wars if we includedwomen and took their labour, participation and experience of wars seriously?Much literature in this field is implicitly as well as explicitly gendered, privilegingmale experiences and knowledge. This Special Issue therefore aims to broadenour theoretical, conceptual and empirical discussion by exploring the role ofwomen’s labour and participation in underwriting, restricting or legitimisingrebel governance and civil wars. It will do so by tracing women’s gendered workin and experience of rebel groups across different civil war settings, and in post-war settlements and processes.