How Armenian Women Preserved a Nation’s Soul

Throughout centuries of turbulence and war, Armenian women have been a symbol of tremendous strength and resilience, as they endured many trials and tribulations during the darkest chapters of their nation’s history. Their contribution to the nation was momentous, though too often underappreciated. From being the pillar of their household, to mounting resistance on battlefields, Armenian women played an integral role in preserving the Armenian culture and ensuring the survival and advancement of their nation.

Guardians of Cultural Heritage and Identity

In times of great upheaval, the female figures of the family served as the main preservers of the Armenian identity. Determined to save their culture from erasure, whether they were in exile or in diaspora communities, they carried their language, songs, traditions and customs with them. Armenian mothers and grandmothers took on the responsibility to teach their kids the Armenian language, traditional songs and prayers, as well as the history of their nation through the form of storytelling. They also cooked traditional dishes and created beautiful needlework pieces that were inspired by their origins. It is truly remarkable that through simple everyday acts, Armenian women managed to quietly protect their culture and pass it on to the generations that followed.

Defying Genocide

The Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923 constitutes an unspeakable tragedy in Armenian history. A vast number of women were subjected to atrocious acts of violence, death marches and enslavement. Despite the horrors they suffered, the stories that later emerged are testaments to their courage and resilience. To avoid being captured, lots of women concealed their true identity, as well as their children’s, or changed their appearance in ways that didn’t reveal their Armenian origins. Others were forced to leave their homeland and walk across the Syrian dessert, without any food or water, with their siblings or children on their backs. In some cases, women and girls were even raped, abducted or killed. With no certainty of survival, Armenian women demonstrated incredible strength and rebuilt a life in exile. They became writers and activists, they built orphanages and schools, and of course they made sure that the appalling atrocities against the Armenian nation would never be forgotten.

Trailblazers in Education and Literature

Armenian women’s contribution in education and literature was undoubtedly instrumental in preserving the Armenian history and shaping their nation’s modern identity. Apart from shedding light on the suffering and struggles of the Armenians, women intellectuals and activists also advocated for women’s rights to education and challenged the patriarchal norms of their society.
Through their writing pieces, they pointed out inequalities between women and men and they tried to empower women to pursue leading roles in society.

Serving in War and Guarding the Nation

In times of war and crisis, women consistently stepped into roles that defied traditional norms. Some of them fought with weapons on the frontlines, while others — especially those in diaspora — provided medical care, supplies and other support services. Women’s involvement in such critical moments once again highlights their fearless spirit and their selfless commitment to the greater good.

In the face of war, genocide and displacement, Armenian women have always been the silent force that carried the nation through its darkest times. They were actively involved in every step of the way by defending, educating, and rebuilding a future for the next generations. Their contribution to the nation is unparalleled and their story isn’t just one of survival, but of resilience, hope and vision too. Refusing to let Armenian history be buried or forgotten, they literally carried the weight of their nation’s history on their shoulders and passed it on across generations.