Throughout history, gender-based survival options have existed during times of war and genocide. Women who were kidnapped during conflicts would often be absorbed in the dominant group (Seifert, 1994). They would be converted and forced into “marriage,” while the men would be killed. Patterson (1982) explains that it was easier to assimilate women into the community than men. During the Armenian Genocide, options for survival were also gender-based. In some instances, Armenian women and girls were allowed to convert to Islam and be saved from death. They could live as long as they became Muslim wives. However, few Armenian men were given the option to become Muslims and be rescued from death. In order to ensure their survival and that of their families, many Armenian women married Muslim men. In doing so, they demonstrated their resourcefulness by invalidating attempts to annihilate them. Genocide survivor testimonies from the UCLA Armenian Oral History Collection will be used to explain the responsibility women often felt to sacrifice themselves to save the lives of family members. One survivor recounts that his aunt married a Turk in order to protect her family members from the killings and the deportation. A male survivor exclaims emphatically that not a single Armenian male would have survived if Armenian women had not married Turks. While their gender provided more survival options for women, it also restricted their options for returning to the Armenian community later. In many instances, culturally defined notions of shame prevented women from leaving their Muslim husbands. Those who had married Muslim men had transgressed notions about women’s honor and purity, and therefore, these women would face rejection if they attempted to return to their Armenian communities. Not surprisingly, some Armenian women struggled with the decision to stay with their Muslims husbands or leave them. Survivors explain that many who stayed in the marriage did so because they feared being ostracized by the Armenian community upon their return. Others who remained with their Muslim husbands recognized that their children would be viewed as “bastards” (Morokvasic-Muller, 2004) by members of their Armenian community. In many instances, having children limited the options available to women, deterring them from leaving their Muslim husbands. This paper will highlight the role gender played during the Armenian Genocide in providing increased opportunities for survival for women, while later, restricting their options for returning to their Armenian community.