In civil conflicts, insurgent groups often use rape as a tool of war. Previous research suggests that through rape insurgent groups aim to instigate violence, develop a reputation, and create a common bond inside the group. This paper examines the inclusion of women into rebel groups and the effects this inclusion has on the commission of sexual violence by civil conflict insurgents. In this study, I test two hypotheses related to the effects of the inclusion of women in a rebel group. The first is that inclusion women in the rebel group leads to greater sexual violence because inclusion indicates that the rebel group uses coercive tactics (such as sexual violence) as a recruitment tool, and are thus more likely to engage in sexual violence. The second is that inclusion of women in a rebel group reduces the sexual violence conducted by that group because inclusion indicates that the group is more tolerant of women’s rights, and hence this acts as a brake on engaging in sexual violence. My first hypothesis was proven by the data collected and analyzed. The amount of women in an insurgent does increase the likelihood that rape will occur.