Women, Violence and Twentieth-Century Warfare

Women, Violence and Twentieth Century Warfare explores the unspoken and hidden impact of war and violent conflict on women, focusing on the case study of Ireland within a broader framework of ethical remembrance.

The violence experienced in the decades after the Irish revolution (1919-23), up to the period encompassing the later “Troubles” in Northern Ireland (1968-98) left enduring social and psychological impacts on society, both in and outside of Ireland. Linda Connolly clearly and systematically synthesises these experiences into a narrative picture which incorporates in-depth research conducted across multiple sources and documents. The book explores the wider relationship between war, gender and violence in twentieth century conflicts, using examples such as forced hair taking, sexual violence, psychological trauma, and migration. Coming up to the end of the twentieth century, the volume sheds light not only on what happened to women during revolution, but also long after, as well as addressing questions around why women experienced violence in the way they did.

Bringing together ideas from feminist theories of war, women’s history, and trauma-informed research, this book will be of interest to students and a scholars of Gender Studies and Irish Studies internationally.