Mothers Under Fire: Mothering in Conflict Areas

This book examines the experiences of women mothering in conflict areas. The aim of this collection is to engage with the nature and meaning of motherhood and mothering during times of war and/or in zones experiencing the threat of war. The essays in the collection reflect diverse disciplinary perspectives through which scholars and field practitioners reveal how conflict shapes mothering practices. One of the unique contributions of the collection is that it highlights not only the particular difficulties mothers face in various geographic locations where conflict has been prevalent, but also the ways in which mothers display agency to challenge and negotiate the circumstances that oppress them. The collection raises awareness of the needs of women and children in areas affected by military and/or political violence worldwide, and provides a basis for developing multiple policy frameworks aimed at improving existing systems of support in local contexts. “Mothers Under Fire: Mothering in Conflict Areas is an excellent and welcome contribution to the study of gender and conflict, and in particular the impact of conflict on mothers and mothering. Through different disciplinary perspectives, first person interviews, and historical and contemporary cases across geographic regions, this book convincingly demonstrates how mothers have agency in times of conflict and post-conflict.” —Kristen P. Williams, Clark University