The Oxford Handbook of Gender, War, and the Western World Since 1600

To date, war history has focused predominantly on the efforts of and impact of war on male participants. However, this limited focus disregards the complexity of gendered experiences with war and the military. The Oxford Handbook of Gender, War, and the Western World since 1600 investigates how conceptions of gender have contributed to the shaping of military culture, examining the varied ideals and practices that have socially differentiated men and women’s wartime experiences. Covering the major periods in warfare since the seventeenth century, The Handbook explores cultural representations of war and the interconnectedness of the military with civil society and its transformations. While principally focusing on the Western world, essays also examine European colonization and its aftermath in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Leading scholars from across the US and Europe here address experiences on the home and battle fronts, attempts to tame warfare through peace movements, and the consequences of participation in the military for citizenship. They also consider postwar cultures, the memories of war, and the challenges faced by female, gay and lesbian soldiers who posed a threat to dominant ideals of military masculinity. The Oxford Handbook of Gender, War, and the Western World since 1600 offers an authoritative account of the intricate relationships between gender, warfare, and military culture across time and space.