Women in War: Examining Historical and Modern Perspectives on Warfare

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the history of women in war, drawing upon Jean Bethke Elshtain's chapter in "The Oxford History of Modern War." It explores the evolving roles of women, from non-combatants and victims to warriors and active participants. The essay highlights historical examples such as Amazonian terrors and Joan of Arc, as well as the roles of women in ancient Greece, the Renaissance, and modern warfare. It examines the shift from traditional expectations to increased involvement, including participation in combat roles and the mobilization of women during conflicts like the American Civil War. The essay concludes by emphasizing the significant improvement in the position of women in warfare, suggesting a continued trend of empowerment and increasing influence in the future.

Running head: SUMMARY OF WOMEN AND WAR
SUMMARY OF WOMEN AND WAR
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1SUMMARY OF WOMEN AND WAR
The world has been at war since its inception. Man has been at war, be it for his survival
or to fight against the forces that threaten to disrupt his way of living. However, the concept of
man at war has never been a topic of discussion. Women have never been seen as combatants.
Women are expected to depend upon men for their protection. Therefore, the story of women
and war has always been the way in which women have directly or indirectly been involved in
war through either being the victims of war or mourning the inevitable. The present essay
highlights the history of women in war as has been stated in the chapter “Women and War”
written by Jean Bethke Elshtain in the book “The Oxford History of Modern War” that has been
edited by Charles Townsend.
The author at the start of the chapter highlights the way women have tackled war in
history. It was unusual for women to be a warrior. History says itself that women are non-
combatants. The lines “A woman may seek private vengeance (for example, when Clytemnestra
murders her husband Agamemnon) but it is the maternal Hecuba mourning the death of son and
grandson that figures more prominently in subsequent stories of women and war” perfectly
summarises the position of women in war1. However, there are exceptions such as women
combatants. Some examples can be exhibited in the form of Amazonian terrors and Joan of Arc
saints. Many women warriors such as resistant fighters, fighter pilot, anti-colonial guerrillas,
piloting navy fighter aircraft who took part in Second World War were extremely bold and their
fighting spirit can never be ignored. To know their tale of fighter spirit, it is important to look at
the vintage and medieval antecedents concerning women warfare. Women were not very much
behind their counterpart of antique war. Greek women were supreme in terms of war the thought
of war was in their blood. Many a renowned personalities died to protect their city. The Greek
1 Townshend, C. (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War (pp. 303-316). Oxford University Press Inc.

2SUMMARY OF WOMEN AND WAR
citizens were as good as an army and nonetheless they were synonyms of polis and they served
as a catalyst. It is true that war means the job of male soldier but women surprised the entire
work by their positive thinking to combat the enemy with their every potentiality and the entire
civilization had to accept this truism. On the other hand, they honour the male soldiers.
In the next part of the chapter, the author highlights the role of women in renaissance and
in early modern warfare. The author gives an example of the Spartan mothers. The Spartan
mothers do not accept lamentations. Such mothers are so fearless and goad who sacrifice their
sons without any expectations for the civic need. If a son returns from the war alive, she would
kill him for the sake of her country to glorify his sacrifice2. This is unique western story of
women and war. In Christianity, the women are just opposite the Spartan mothers. The Spartan
mothers’ souls are considered the beautiful soul in comparison to others. However, they were not
considered as warriors and leaders, still their influence were well accepted the society. The
anthropologists thought that these mothers must be protected to save the human race. However,
at modern age the women are not considered the fighters. Now the women’s involvement is very
much on the need as they participate as warfare pilot and even the combatant taking lessons from
the medieval periods. After the gap of certain periods, the renaissance and early modern warfare
come into picture. There are controversies involving women as far as their participation in the
battlefield is concerned. The rape of women is also considered the strategies of warfare, which is
unethical, and exception to the rules and of course, this is a controversial point.
The author then goes on to highlight the role of women in modern war. It was important
that women were actively made to participate in war instead of making them watch from the
sidelines. The author gives an example of the mobilization of the women forces in dissipating the
2 Townshend, C. (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War (pp. 303-316). Oxford University Press Inc.

3SUMMARY OF WOMEN AND WAR
effects of Civil war in the lines “Indeed, General Sherman notoriously insisted that, in order to
pursue the American Civil War to a successful conclusion for the forces of the Union, it would
be necessary to ‘make the women of Georgia howl’”3. Women became more involved in war in
the modern era. Though the women are being encourage to display their prowess in war, there
are still certain countries like Israel where married women are exempted from the armed forces.
There is still a long way to go. Women have shown that the creatures who have always been
associated with love and care can also become fierce warriors when the time comes.
Thus, the author has highlighted the role of women in history and in modern era. The
position of women in warfare has improved drastically in the recent times and it may be said that
it would keep on improving with women becoming more empowered and powerful in the
upcoming days.
3 Townshend, C. (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War (pp. 303-316). Oxford University Press Inc.

4SUMMARY OF WOMEN AND WAR
References
Townshend, C. (2000). The Oxford History of Modern War (pp. 303-316). Oxford University
Press Inc.