Nidia Diaz

Women at war is a topic of high interest with limited information available on specific experiences. Military-type organizations exist that have trained and employed women in combat roles, yet the experience hasn't been fully or accurately documented. This project explores the experiences of Nidia Diaz, a female insurgent in the Revolutionary Party of Central American Workers (PRTC) of El Salvador during the 1980s. She held various leadership positions and was promoted to Commandante. The goal of the research was to determine if she was a successful insurgent leader. Pertinent literature, newspaper accounts, government documents, and first-hand interviews were used. Chapter 1 outlines the thesis statement and provides the limitations and significance of the study. Chapter 2 provides a brief background of the Civil War in El Salvador as well as an explanation of how the FMLN was formed. Chapter 3 traces Nidia's rise to power and includes why she joined the insurgency and how she became a leader in the movement. Chapter 4 addresses the role of women and outlines the problems specifically encountered by them. Chapter 5 covers Nidia's leadership style and abilities. Chapter 6 provides the analysis and evaluation of the data. When comparing Nidia's characteristics to the attributes deemed necessary for an insurgent leader, her accomplishments demonstrate her success. Chapter 7 concludes with an update on Nidia's current activities. She is now an elected national assemblywoman and is currently preparing for re-election. She is still very much devoted to the cause and continues to fight for the rights of the people.