An estimated 300,000 soldiers around the world are youth under the age of 18. Some join fighting groups because they believe in the cause, while others join mainly to sustain themselves with food and...

An estimated 300,000 soldiers around the world are youth under the age of 18. Some join fighting groups because they believe in the cause, while others join mainly to sustain themselves with food and protection. Many others are forced to join; they may be abducted or drafted, then indoctrinated. While boys are stereotypically assumed to be better fighters, girls are participating in fighting forces in 55 countries, assuming roles as fighters, spies, messengers, lookouts, medics, and supply carriers as well as more traditional gender roles as captive “wives” or sex slaves, mothers, cooks, and domestic servants (United Nations, 2005).