Twelve Feminist Lessons of War is the gritty, informed and grounded book we need to understand what is happening to our world.
Using gender research and analysis from wars over the last century from dozens of countries, Cynthia Enloe spells out the lessons that women activists have drawn from their immediate experiences of war.
She shows how patriarchy and militarism have deeply embedded themselves in our institutions and in our personal lives; how women’s emotional and physical labour is used to support government policies; and how the social and political processes that shape war – from economic collapse, military recruitment and corruption to sexual assault, marriage and reproductive rights (and their denial) – are shaped by definitions of masculinities and femininities.
Highlighting the importance of testimony, she leaves us in no doubt that gendered assumptions shape not only women’s experiences of war but also their lives before, during and in the aftermath of war.
‘Cynthia Enloe is a force to be reckoned with and utterly tireless. Her work has long spanned intersectional analyses of gender, race and class. With typical laser focus, she repeatedly questions which things society pays attention to and which we consider insignificant. She emphasises the importance of feminist collaboration and curiosity, and is closely concerned with encouraging and supporting students and younger women. She is an inspiration.’ – Laura Bates, The Guardian
‘Cynthia Enloe is an adventurer, an intellectual with a light touch and inveterate ‘feminist curiosity’. She shows how thinking about gender, the renewal of patriarchy and women’s resistance is vital to making sense of the world. It is a joy to travel with her.’ – Beatrix Campbell
‘This is a manual for taking us to the finishing line of gender equality. Without understanding the incredible tentacles of patriarchy and its reinventions, we are destined to fight old battles as well as new ones. A jolt of new energy for longstanding feminists and a “must read” for our new generations.’ – Helena Kennedy
‘Cynthia Enloe mixes razor sharp analysis of contemporary patriarchy with profound empathy for women’s multiple forms of resistance. Without doubt, she is the pre-eminent global feminist of our age.’ – Melissa Benn
Cynthia Enloe is a feminist activist, researcher and teacher. She is Research Professor at Clark University in Massachusetts and internationally known for her work on women in the military, in the global garment, banana, diplomatic and banking industries, and in domestic service.
Her 15 books, including Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics, have been translated into Chinese, French, Icelandic, Japanese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish and Ukrainian. She has been awarded honorary doctorates from universities around the world, and regularly appears on international news channels.
In 2018, Cynthia Enloe was chosen as one of the 100 names written on the Gender Justice Wall at the International Crimes Court in The Hague.
