YEREVAN — The Armenian Genocide Museum‑Institute (AGMI) has announce the publication of a pioneering article, “In the Shadow of Genocide: Female Perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide,” in the internationally recognized journal Women’s History Review.
Authored by Dr. Edita Gzoyan, Dr. Elina Mirzoyan, and Dr. Regina Galustyan, the study explores a largely overlooked aspect of the Armenian Genocide—the role of women as active participants and perpetrators. Drawing on rare archival materials, survivor testimonies, and contemporary accounts, the research reveals how gender, ideology, and power intersected in processes of violence and complicity during the genocide.
Twentieth-century genocides challenge the notion that women are inherently “peaceful,” showing that women, too, could engage in incitement, propaganda, and direct acts of violence. This study addresses a significant gap in Armenian Genocide scholarship by examining the involvement of Turkish women. Using oral and written testimonies, memoirs, and other sources, the research demonstrates that women participated in a spectrum of actions—from incitement and propaganda to direct killings—and highlights forms of institutional participation that warrant further investigation.
By foregrounding women’s involvement, the study contributes to more holistic approaches in genocide research and underscores the importance of including female perpetrators in comprehensive analyses of the Armenian Genocide.
Dr. Edita Gzoyan, Director of AGMI, commented: “This study sheds light on a profoundly underexplored dimension of the Armenian Genocide. Examining women as perpetrators broadens the historical record and challenges simplified perceptions of victimhood, complicity, and agency.” She continued: “It offers a more nuanced understanding of the complex roles, motivations, and dynamics that shaped the genocide.”
This publication reinforces AGMI’s growing role as a leading international research hub dedicated to uncovering new perspectives and fostering academic dialogue on the Armenian Genocide and comparative genocide studies. AGMI continues to encourage interdisciplinary research that deepens knowledge of the past and contributes to the global field of genocide studies. The extensive research conducted by the Institute’s scholars can be found at https://www.genocide-museum.am/eng/index.php
