Motherhood and War: International Perspectives

Traditional histories of war have focused overwhelmingly on masculine narratives of military action, diplomacy, and political maneuvering, leaving the "home front" and private, domestic life relatively unstudied. This volume aims to expand general understanding of wartime experiences by looking at the complex relationships between mothers and children, and the varied roles both have assumed during periods of armed conflict. In contexts ranging from militant motherhood in Latin America, contemporary conflicts in the Middle East to World War II-era Japan, these case studies examine how women coped during times of great uncertainty, navigating social boundaries, balancing national and familial commitments, and enduring the injury or even death of their children.