Women and war: a historical encyclopedia from antiquity to the present

Abstract

In this unique encyclopedia, 120 leading scholars from around the world provide comprehensive treatment of the role of women in war, from the first written history to the present. This authoritative encyclopedia presents the work of leading scholars from all over the world to give the first detailed coverage of the role of women in wars throughout history. Histories of war are typically histories of men: great leaders and heroic fighters. Yet the roles of women often receive only limited coverage. Except for such notables as Joan of Arc, traditional histories give short shrift to women as leaders and fighters. Similarly, the direct victimization-particularly sexual abuse as a weapon of terror and domination-and cultural dislocations women suffer in war float as background, without detailed coverage. This work represents a first, devoted in its entirety to thorough examination of all aspects of women in war. For the first time, readers have a single source for information on the scope of women's role in war, and war's effects on them. Nearly 500 A-Z entries on women as combatants, spies, auxiliaries, medics, supporters, opponents, and victims of war from antiquity to the present and on all continents Contributions from 140 leading scholars from the Americas, Asia, Australia, and Europe Sidebars containing original documents from autobiographies, archives, and newspapers present firsthand coverage of women at war Text enlivened by more than 70 photographs of women combatants, medical personnel, peace activists, spies, and secret agents

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