Perspectives on Political Violence
1 total work
Throughout history, women have often borne the brunt of conflict, not least when rape and sexual violence are used as weapons of war. But while the role of women as victims of violence is well documented, we often forget that women can also be perpetrators. In a small but significant number of cases, women in conflict zones have participated in horrific acts of rape, torture, and sexual abuse. This book uncovers the stories of these women, and asks what their crimes can tell us about our broader conceptions of war, violence, and gender.
Weaving together case studies ranging from Nazi Germany to the women of 'Islamic State', Sjoberg provides an affecting and provocative account of women in wartime, one which upends the stereotypes and sensationalism of mainstream accounts. Sjoberg shows that our perceptions of sexual violence have too often allowed female perpetrators to remain invisible, and her work therefore sheds vital light on a neglected area of modern conflict, while also pointing to practical ways in which we can improve policy and advocacy work on war rape.