Woman Nation State

This book examines the place of women within ethnic and national communities in nine different societies, and the ways in which the state intervenes in their lives. Contributions from a group of scholars examine the situations in their religious, economic and historical context.

An examination of nationalism and gender.

Women, States and Nationalism counters this attitude and examines the many and contradictory ways in which women negotiate their places in 'the nation'. The volume includes theoretical essays that explore the multiple ways in which the very concept of 'nation' is based upon notions of family, sexuality and gender power which are often overlooked of downplayed by 'male-stream' scholarship. It gathers together an outstanding panel of feminist scholars and area studies specialists, who, through a series of focused case studies, analyse diverse issues which include; *gender and sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland *the paradox of Israeli women soldiers *women, civic duty and the military in the USA *the Hindu Right in India *power, agency and representation in Zimbabwe *political identity and heterosexism. This timely volume is a highly valuable resource for students and scholars of Nationalism, Internationalism Studies and Women's Studies.

Nira Yuval-Davis provides an authoritative overview and critique of writings on gender and nationhood, presenting an original analysis of the ways gender relations affect and are affected by national projects and processes. In Gender and Nation Yuval-Davis argues that the construction of nationhood involves specific notions of both `manhood' and `womanhood'. She examines the contribution of gender relations to key dimensions of nationalist projects - the nation's reproduction, its culture and citizenship - as well as to national conflicts and wars, exploring the contesting relations between feminism and nationalism. Gender and Nation is an important contribution to the debates on citizenship, gender and nationhood. It will be essential reading for academics and students of women's studies, race and ethnic studies, sociology and political science.

Political projects of modern nation-states, the specificities of their nationalist histories and the positioning of Islam vis-a-vis diverse nationalisms are addressed in this volume with respect to their implications and consequences for women through a series of case studies.

Though they are almost completely absent from the historical record, Palestinian women were extensively involved in the unfolding national struggle in their country during the British mandate period. This history studies the development of the Palestine women's movement between 1920 and 1948.