In Ireland, there were females both in Republican groups such as the IRA, which are fighting against British forces in Northern Ireland, as well as in groups of Loyalists who are pro-state and support the continuation of British rule of the area. Usually the IRA women cadres performed certain non-military roles, in which they exploited traditional stereotypes of gender. The women became faceless very often wearing a mask and they used midi skirts thus revealing their femininity. They used to hide and carry weapons, as the British soldiers were loath to body search women because of the tremendous public revulsion it would create. Here's a small collection of portraits of female IRA fighters in the 1970s.