© 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2007 International Council of Nurses 316 Blackwell Publishing LtdOxford, UKINRInternational Nursing Review0020-8132© 2006 The Authors, International Nursing Review (2006) ? 200754••••••Original ArticlesMarginalization of girl mothersM. E. Burman & S. McKay Correspondence address: Mary E. Burman, Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, University of Wyoming, Dept 3065, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; Tel: 307 766 3903; Fax: 307 766 4294; E-mail: mburman@uwyo.edu. Original Article Marginalization of girl mothers during reintegration from armed groups in Sierra Leone M.E. Burman 1 PhD & S. McKay 2 PhD 1 Professor, Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, 2 Professor of Women’s Studies and International Studies, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA BURMAN M.E. & MCKAY S. (2007) Marginalization of girl mothers during reintegration from armed groups in Sierra Leone. International Nursing Review 54, 316–323 Background: Although the widespread presence of girls who participate in fighting forces is increasingly recognized, they remain a highly marginalized group globally, receiving little attention either during or after armed conflict. This is especially true for “girl mothers,” girls who return to communities with children born while members of fighting forces. Aim: The concept of marginalization (Hall et al. 1994) is used to examine what happens to girl soldiers, especially girl mothers, in the aftermath of armed conflict when they seek to reintegrate back into their communities. Methods: This analysis, as part of a larger study of reintegration of girl mothers, is based on field work with girls who were in fighting forces in northwest Sierra Leone, especially those who returned with children. Findings: The type and level of marginalization these girls experience is consistent with the conceptualization of marginalization; however, they lack voice and experience shame and vulnerability. Moreover, economics were fundamentally related to their marginalization. The girls’ access to resources was significantly constrained because the area was heavily impacted by the war and because of widespread poverty throughout Sierra Leone. Discussion: The findings raise important questions about marginalization of girls affected by war. Girls and girl mothers experience an extremely high level of marginalization; however, some aspects are not consistent with the original conceptualization of marginalization. Theory development in nursing needs to incorporate multiple voices, especially those of the very marginalized and be done in such a manner that benefits and empowers. Keywords: girl soldiers, girl mothers, marginalization, health, gender, Sierra Leone, armed conflict Introduction Throughout the world, children are used in armed conflicts. Child soldiers are typically thought of as boys; yet girls have been found in fighting forces in large numbers in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East (Mazurana et al. 2002; McKay & Mazurana 2004). The international definition of child soldier, from the Cape Town Principles, takes into account that girls serve in many roles: . . . any person under 18 years of age who is part of any kind of regular or irregular armed force in any capacity, including but not limited to cooks, porters, messengers, and those accompa- nying such groups, other than purely as family members. Girls recruited for sexual purposes and forced marriage are included in this definition. It does not therefore only refer to a child who is carrying or has carried arms. (UN Children’s Fund 1997, p. 1) Only recently has the presence of girls in fighting forces become a focus for practitioners, policy makers, and researchers, largely because of reports calling attention to their plight (Brett 2004; Denov & Maclure 2006; Fox 2004; McKay 2005, 2006; McKay & Mazurana 2004). Girls in fighting forces remain a highly marginalized group receiving little attention during or after conflict. Most girls, if they survive, make their way directly back to communities where they