It is now widely recognized that women are uniquely affected by war and violence–their traditional role as ‘nurturers’ of the family suffers strain; their bodies become sites for the expression of hatred and revenge; their subordinate positions in everyday life render them especially vulnerable. Increasingly, women are also drawn into conflict as active participants–as soldiers in war, as guerillas in subversive movements. In post-conflict scenarios, however, the presence of women is almost negligible. In negotiating peace settlements, in drafting constitutions and in working for peace between conflicting groups, men far out number women. The papers in this volume explore the multiple ways in which women relate with war and peace, assessing their participation and unravelling their potential for shaping a more stable and peaceful social structure. Taking cognizance of the large number of civilian victims of modern-day conflicts, the essays throw light on the questioning of status quo that is often most acute in times of conflict. This volume addresses the need to understand both the in-depth reality of each particular conflict site–Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Japan, Ireland, Yugoslavia, South Africa, the Indian subcontinent–and also the experiences of women peace-workers across these different sites in a comparative perspective. While discussing the diverse strategies used by peace-workers and their relative success or failure, it also underlines the importance of women’s participation in forging partnerships for a lasting peace.
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