In this article, Martina Ferro explores the complex interplay of feminism and nationalism in Iraqi Kurdistan, where women’s rights activism is intertwined with Kurdish identity and struggles for autonomy. She explains how Kurdish women’s advocacy has evolved from nationalist roots and now faces challenges from entrenched patriarchy and political constraints, in light of the 2017 independence referendum. She advocates for the Kurdish women’s movement to embed gender equity within nationalist struggles, to envision a more inclusive and just society for all.