Women, Violence and War
Wartime Victimization of Refugees in the Balkans
Edited by Vesna Nikolic-Ristanovic, Institute
of Criminology and
Social Research, Belgrade
"This book fills an important gap in our understanding
of the way war affects women. The personal narratives
are instructive and candid, and the analytical chapters
point us in new directions. ...provides a truly unique
perspective on the Yugoslavian conflict, and indeed,
on conflict in general as it impacts the lives of women."
- Nationalism & Ethnic Politics
"...books such as Women, Violence and War are so important,
because we need to be confronted. This collection is
indeed confronting. Original, primary research and analyses
translated into English, offers new insights on a timeless
theme... more than a narrative tracing another dreadful
chapter of history; the book offers valuable analysis
of the crimes committed against women in former Yugoslavia
and how this analysis fits into the established framework
of argument concerning rape and violence against women
in war." - Minerva: Quarterly Report
Based on interviews with seventy women refugees, Women,
Violence and War is a book about war as it is seen,
lived and interpreted by women who were citizens of
the former Yugoslavia.
Many of the accounts portray the horrific experiences
the victims had to face and the book addresses issues
of sexual, physical and psychological violence, as well
as problems of confinement, upheaval and family separation.
In a completely new insight the book dispels the myth
that many of the women were peasants, and shows that
in fact they were educated, middle-class women with
independent careers. The study also depicts how some
of the victims attempt to come to terms with the aftermath
of wartime abuse.
This probing, accurate and unique investigation of
victimization is an unparalleled volume that presents
a completely new perspective maintaining that violence
against women in war is not independent of peace-time
victimization and the imbalance of power between sexes.
Contents
Preface. Introduction. Definitions of violence
in war and the female experience, The method and the
sample, Sexual violence, Physical abuse and homicide,
Psychic violence and fear in war and their consequences
for the psychological health of women, Separation from
family and its destruction, Life in refuge, Social acceptance
and difficulties of adaption to the new environment,
Strategies of support and health Conclusion. Appendixes
2000
300 pages
ISBN 978-963-9116-59-7 cloth $49.95 / €42.95 /
£33.00
ISBN 978-963-9116-60-3 paperback $22.95 / €19.95
/ £15.99
|