Cheng, Fung Kei. “Dilemmas of Chinese Lesbian Youths in Contemporary Mainland China.” Sexuality & Culture22, no. 1 (October 11, 2017): 190–208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-017-9460-8. 

This study examined the lived experiences of four millennial lesbians from March to September 2015, aiming to understand the intersectionality between their identity and Communist China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and answers disclosed their personal experiences of being homosexual and reflected the struggles lesbians face. The author argues there is a double marginalization faced by young LGBTQ+ members, and various aspects of their lives contribute to the identity confusion they experience. The limitation of the study can be the limited number of participants. Nevertheless, the valuable oral history provided insights into the lives of lesbians and demonstrates one’s identity with complexity.  Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Chiang, William Wei. We Two Know the Script, We Have Become Good Friends: Linguistic and Social Aspects of the Women’s Script Literacy in Southern Hunan, China. Lanham, MD: University Press of America, 1995.

This book is based on Chiang’s two periods of fieldwork, one was from January to July in 1988 and one was from January to June in 1990, adding up to a total of thirteen months. He conducted a thorough village survey, spoke with women who utilized the script, documented literacy styles, and conducted documentary research. He concentrates on nüshu's social and cultural aspects. While arguing that gender truly dictates the purpose and character of the script, Chiang implies that women's literacy is related to a potential cultural complex present in South China. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Chow, Pizza Ka-Yee, and Sheung-Tak Cheng. “Shame, Internalized Heterosexism, Lesbian Identity, and Coming out to Others: A Comparative Study of Lesbians in Mainland China and Hong Kong.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 57, no. 1 (January 2010): 92–104. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017930.

This study aimed to delve into the different emotions experienced by lesbians in mainland China and Hong Kong relating to their coming out to family and friends. The authors found that shame is shared among the two regions, and the internalization of heteronormativity is seen among many lesbians. The homosexual identity has led to different trajectories in terms of leaving the closet. By utilizing the self-stigma scale, the researchers have analyzed the responses to conclude that support for lesbians often comes from friends and in person from people of a similar generation. One limitation is the age of the participants, who are mostly teenagers and coming out; however, many older generations may not be as vocal due to a conservative social environment, and thus, it does not encapsulate the whole population. Nevertheless, this is the population that is active on social media and is more vocal in participating in sexual orientation-related activism. It shows the CCP’s crackdown and their experience.  Annotated  by Xinyang Sun.

Cui, Yichao, Naomi Yamashita, and Yi-Chieh Lee. “‘We Gather Together We Collaborate Together’: Exploring the Challenges and Strategies of Chinese Lesbian and Bisexual Women’s Online Communities on Weibo.” Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction 6, no. CSCW2 (November 7, 2022): 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1145/3555148.

This research investigates the formation, challenges, and strategies of Weibo bloggers and their experience with the Chinese social media platform. The authors conducted interviews with 40 self-identified lesbian and bisexual women and examined their activities on Weibo. They found that LGBTQ+ bloggers face many difficulties when sharing content related to homosexuality, but they serve an important role in building online and offline relations. The study provides valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by Chinese lesbian and bisexual women in creating safe online spaces and the dual nature of online spaces as both supportive and homophobic. One limitation can be seen among the sample population, where bloggers may be more targeted or experience more surveillance. Thus, their posts may not fully reflect an individual’s experience as they may post with different purposes. Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Gong, Zhebing. “Guanyu yi zhong teshu wenzi de diaocha baogao [The profound connotation of women's book and its folk culture].” Journal of Central South College for Nationalities (Humanities and Social Sciences Edition) 3(1983).

In this article, Gong presents a special script called nüshu that he found during his field work in the southern part of Hunan province. Using direct evidence from his trip from 11 November 1982 to 2 January 1983, Gong explains in detail how he found this script, and the uniqueness of this script - used only among women. He explores whether this script is from Han ethnicity or Yao ethnicity in the article and argues it is hard to make a decision based on a lack of information. He argues this script might have some connection with the oppression of women, and the main characteristic of nüshu is that it expresses the difficulties of being daughters-in-law. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Gong, Zhebing. Nüshu yu Xingke – Nüxing Tongxinglianzhe de Zuopin yu Qinggan [Nüshu and Xingke: Works and Emotions of Female Homosexuals]. The Chinese Journal of Human Sexuality 12, no. 4 (December 2003): 38–40.

In this article, Gong explores the relationship between nüshu and the female relationship that it fosters, particularly focusing on the intimate relationship among xingke. He uses the Jiangyong country annal and poems from nüshu in his analysis, as well as providing an interview analysis with a person who used nüshu. He argues that xingke relationships among women in Jiangyong County often included romantic and sexual behaviors. Gong thinks the nüshu serves as a communication tool for women within this community. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

By using an analysis of case studies in other LGBT-relevant issues in China like those concerning HIV/AIDS, as well as a comparison of policies in Taiwan and Singapore and social movements literature, Thomas Hildebrand argues that same-sex marriage legislation in China could be used strategically to improve the country’s external reputation in human rights. Further, he finds that when imposed from the top-down, same-sex marriage legislation incurs opportunity costs on activism and eliminates important issues around which a LGBT community often can develop. He states that “the right to marry will do little to challenge the large social pressures that make life difficult for the LGBT community in China” and emphasizes that there are little to no internal pressures for same-sex marriage in China (2011: 1330). Important quote: “Human rights issues are traditionally viewed in a linear, teleological way; the improvement of human rights is usually predicated on democracy, and assumes a natural hierarchical progression of one right to another. This might be a more effective way of guaranteeing that rights are upheld, but is not how rights are always granted.” Annotation by Peter Wetherbee.

Jia, Samuel. “Queering China in Cyberspace: Desire, Resistance and Discipline in Imagining Chinese Modern Gayness.” Wesleyan University Thesis, April 5, 2019. https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/islandora/queering-china-cyberspace-desire-resistance-and-discipline-imagining-chinese-modern.

This paper contributes to queer studies and digital activism. Through using a project called “queering China” the author identifies virtual spaces on social media and examines the two identities.  It expands the theoretical framework of queer theory by incorporating transnational and post-colonial perspectives, making it highly relevant for scholars interested in the global dimensions of LGBTQ activism and identity formation. The author concludes that cyberspace in China can be a queer space in which people can express and support each other through methods that are accepted within the Chinese context. It critically analyzes the intersections between queerness and Chineseness, avoiding reductive cultural interpretations and instead highlighting their dynamic relationship.  Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Jiang, Hong. “The Personalization of Literature: Chinese Women’s Writing in the 1990s.” China Review, vol. 3, no. 1, 2003, pp. 5–27. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/23461820. 

In the 1990s, the term “personalization” or “privatization” became very discussed in media circles, book markets, as well as in public conversation. In this article, Hong first analyzes the impact of the intellectual and cultural concepts, such as “personalization” “privatization” that are largely discussed in 1990, and how female writing has transformed by these concepts. Lu then proceeds to discuss how female writers achieve such transformation by their sensitivity to the changing surrounding of the “urban public sphere” and how the public space interacts with female private areas. Hong applies textual analysis and comparative analysis of three female authors’ work, including Wang Anyi. Hong argues that such transformation is achieved though the creation of a self-defined private space through a “sensual, “literary”, and “erotic” experience of urban space. Hong then, concludes that, from a perspective of knowledge production, the intellectual transformation enables female writers to write freely, which brought the increasing attention to them in the market. Annotated by Yiyao Yang.

Liu, Feiwen. "Literacy, Gender, and Class: Nüshu and Sisterhood Communities In Southern Rural Hunan", Nan Nü 6, 2 (2004): 241-282. https://doi.org/10.1163/1568526042530427. 

In this article, by contrasting nüshu with the literary societies of aristocratic women in the Lower Yangzi region during late imperial China, Liu illustrates how literacy dynamically engages with the social forces of gender and class. She focused on the sisterhood of women who used nüshu. She argues that women experienced agency and created significance through nüshu. Therefore, by enabling women to extend their female relationships beyond the borders of villages and male-derived familial ties, nüshu strengthened women. She also noticed the dissatisfaction of Jiangyong peasant women with their inability to maintain such relationships after marriage. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Lu, Mei-Lien. “The Changing Status of Women in Taiwan: 1945-2010,” May 4, 2012. https://etd.auburn.edu//handle/10415/3100.

This research examines the “economic, social, and political status of women in Taiwan from 1945 to 2010”. Applying a theoretical model of how women’s status is influenced by economic, cultural and political development, Lu uses quantitative analysis to test the hypothesis developed based on the model and evaluates Taiwan’s performance on major indicators of women’s status (“parliamentary representation”, “fertility rate”, and “labour force participation”) by regression analysis. Lu finds that, in the post-war era of Taiwan, although women’s status has been improved in “social conditions”, “human and social capital”, “economic activities”, and “political participation and power”, challenges persist, such as patriarchal gender norms. Lu calls for caution in terms of analyzing women’s status in its socioeconomic context. Even though the society might be experiencing transformation, modernization, and democratization, the local dynamics modified by the historical contexts, traditional gender norms could still shape the trajectory of the progress of gender equality. Annotated by Yiyao Yang.

McLaren, Anne. Crossing gender boundaries in China: “nüshu ” narratives, intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context, Issue 1, 1998.

McLaren explores the unique cultural and historical role of nüshu. She highlights how nüshu emerged from oral traditions, providing women with a way to express and pass down their experiences. She thinks while some texts of nüshu reflect Confucian norms, others challenge gender roles through personal stories. McLaren argues that nüshu reveals how women preserved and reinterpreted traditions distinct from elite culture, questioning the idea of a unified Confucian society during the late imperial period. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Pacalon, Taïmé. “LGBT Cyber-Activism in China: Between Censorship and Freedom.” Translated by Manon Picot. Institut du Genre en Géopolitique, September 8, 2023. https://igg-geo.org/?p=14884&lang=en.

This article looks at the online environment for the queer population in China. The author argues that censorship is a tool used by the government to mute and conceal the existence of homosexuals on the internet and control the information one can express and receive. The author analyzed the online environment and argued that Chinese homosexuality on the web is often shown as a self-narrative and is in danger of being banned with close surveillance. Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Ruan, Fang Fu, and Vern L. Bullough. “Lesbianism in China.” Internet Archive, January 1, 1992. https://archive.org/details/lesbianisminchina/mode/1up.

This paper utilized historical examples of lesbianism in China and examines the literary sources to argue that homosexuality has a long history in China. The authors focused both on literary reviews and surveys of lesbianism in modern China to argue that female-to-female relationships have recently become talkable in a public study in China, which was around 1980. Furthermore, they argue that Chinese lesbians often do not want to be publicly identified due to internal and external pressure. The study's strength is the adoption of quotes from interviews that demonstrate personal lived experiences and the incorporation of historical literature reviews to suggest patterns that have been seen for a long time in history. Annotated by Xinyang Sun.

Shaw, Gareth, and Xiaoling Zhang. “Cyberspace and Gay Rights in a Digital China: Queer Documentary Filmmaking under State Censorship.” China Information 32, no. 2 (October 30, 2017): 270–92. https://doi.org/10.1177/0920203x17734134.

This study examines the censorship experienced by film producers in China, and it focuses on queer documentaries where the documentaries often engage with the lesbian and homosexual community. The struggle experienced by filmmakers is being examined through the author’s close reading of blogs from Weibo. The LGBTQ+ representation in media work faces various difficulties with distribution and making an appearance being the most difficult. The author argues that State censorship is a powerful force that determines the press and limits LBGTQ+ representation. The findings support the argument that CCP dislikes films that have an LGBTQ+ existence and bans such themes from making it to the mainstream. Moreover, it examines the examples of slurs used on the Chinese internet and argues that social media offers an online platform where some documentaries can make an appearance if the language or material is indictable to be LGBTQ+ related. Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Shen, Lisa Chu. “From Lolita to Fang Siqi: Sabotaging the Narrative of Rape across Cultures.” Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction 62, no. 3 (May 27, 2021): 285–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/00111619.2020.1810613.

This article explores the proactive role of the Chinese-language novel Fang Siqi’s Paradise of First Love in revealing sociality of rape, the dynamics of vulnerability, victimization, and agency. Using a comparative literature analysis between Fang Siqi and the work of Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, Shen argues that Fang Siqi presents the experience of rape and sexual violation in a way that challenges conventional rape-love discourse imbedded in Lolita. As Lolita depicts, rape is intricately connected with masculinity and is used to fulfil the discourse of loving the Rapist. However, Fang Siqi’ centres the victims of rape and articulates their trauma to the extent that almost nobody could ignore the rape incidents themselves or interpret rape to decriminalize the predators. The article finds that the work of Fang Siqi testifies to the resistance and agency of female voices, interrogating conventional love narratives of rape in male-dominated literary practices. Furthermore, it finds that Fang Siqi subverts masculinity beyond the literature practice and challenges not only the sexual violence against women but also the social system that constructed such violence. Annotated by Yiyao Yang.

Silber, Cathy. “From Daughter to Daughter-in-Law in the Women’s Script of Southern Hunan.” In Engendering China: Women, Culture, and the State edited by Christina K. Gilmartin, Gail Hershatter, Lisa Rofel and Tyrene. Cambridge, MA and London, England: White, 47-68. 

Silber examines the transition of women’s roles from daughter to daughter-in-law in Southern Hunan. She explores how nüshu was used to express women’s feelings about this life stage, including the challenges of marriage and family dynamics. Silber argues that although it is very tempting to romanticize nüshu as a discourse of resistance against gender oppression, however, nüshu is the fact that, for the women of Shangjiangxu it was a similar activity as embroidery, and though men could not read it, they could understand it if they heard it sung aloud. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Stalling, Jonathan, Lin Tai-man, and Yanwing Leung “Contemporary Taiwanese Women Writers: An Anthology” Cambria Press. 2018.

This book presents prominent female writers’ work in contemporary Taiwan. The ten stories and one non-fiction work included in the book has different topics, such as “mother-daughter relationships”, marriage, “politics and gender”. These works are tied together by a common topic, the exploration of gender relations, but divided into different subtopics. For instance, Ping Lu and Liao Hui-ying depicts the “love-hate relationships between daughters and mothers”. Among the stories, three works, including “A Place of One’s Own”, demonstrate the literary interest on marriage in late 80s shared by many female writers. Sometimes, one story might have intersecting topics. For instance, "The Party Girl" (Lin Tai-man) focuses on marriage, as the young female characters strive for "elegance and taste," implicitly mocking a consumerist society and its values. The editor Jonathan Stalling says in the introduction of the book that each of the stories deals with heterogenous topics, but they all have a gendered exploration. This book invites further comparative studies on contemporary women writing between Taiwan and other regions in the world. Annotated by Yiyao Yang.

Worth, Heather, Jing Jun, Karen McMillan, Su Chunyan, Fu Xiaoxing, Zhang Yuping, Rui Zhao, Angela Kelly-Hanku, Cui Jia, and Zhang Youchun. “‘There Was No Mercy at All’: Hooliganism, Homosexuality and the Opening-up of China.” International Sociology 34, no. 1 (December 11, 2018): 38–57. https://doi.org/10.1177/0268580918812265.

This article investigates the crackdown on homosexuality by the CCP during the reform period and the Cultural Revolution. The authors argue that harsh regulation was adopted to eliminate homosexuality. Legislature policies on the new crime “hooliganism” were used along with interviews conducted with people who had lived experience during the period, which were combined with the homophobic actions taken by CCP to serve a national purpose. Moreover, by identifying the “dark ages,” a time between 1949 and 1970s in China, gay men’s experiences were reflective of the treatment and attitude of Chinese society. Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Xie, Ying, and Minggang Peng. “Attitudes toward Homosexuality in China: Exploring the Effects of Religion, Modernizing Factors, and Traditional Culture.” Journal of Homosexuality 65, no. 13 (November 2, 2017): 1758–87. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2017.1386025.

This study aims to look at the effects of the social environment and the relationship in their attitudes towards homosexuality in China. The authors utilized a zero-inflated model to analyze the Chinese General Social Survey 2013 and found that 78.53% of the population hold conservative views toward same-sex sexuality. One limitation of the study is the source where information was first gained. As the government data does not include all populations, people may not respond truthfully, and the presentation may have biases. Nevertheless, the results suggest that a large proportion of the population believed in the wrongdoing of same-sex relationships, thus suggesting a homophobic public opinion in China. Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Yang, Amanda. “Meritocracy and Marketization of Education: Taiwanese Middle-Class Strategies in a Private Secondary School.” LSU Doctoral Dissertations, March 9, 2021. https://doi.org/10.31390/gradschool_dissertations.5470.

This article explores the middle-class response to education against the backdrop of modernization of Taiwan’s social structure and demography under globalization. The author applies a case study to examine education inequality through the lens of middle-class families’ school choices and the strategies to approach education. Additionally, Yang gathers qualitative information through interviews with school administrators and analyzes it by applying Critical Discourse Analysis and Thematic Analysis methods. Based on the theoretical frameworks of neoliberalism and Bourdieusian theories, “commodification” “competition” “choices” “capital” are the conceptual tools for analyzing how middle-class families adapt their education strategies in reaction to the marketization of education in Taiwan. Yang finds that the middle-class families of studied expect their culture could be reproduced not just at home but through education, in order to maintain or increase their social mobility through the accomplishment of educational qualification, sometimes private schooling. Yang calls for the policymakers to carefully examine their education policies aiming to improve the average educational levels in Taiwan and to provide alternative programs to prove that all professions are considered important to ease the academic anxiety faced by not only the middle-class families, but the public in Taiwan in general. Annotated by Yiyao Yang.

Wong, Simon. "NüShu–It's not for you, guys!." United Bible Societies (2005): 1-5.

Wong introduces the (re) discovery and growing interest of nüshu in this article. Starting with providing the image of nüshu to be a unique form of writing created and used exclusively by women. His work is mainly based on other articles. He recognized that the origin of nüshu remains as debate and he emphasis that nüshu was a way for women to communicate their emotions, particularly social-marginalized ones. Wong also discusses the cultural perception of nüshu as a “secret” or “hidden” language and its symbolic role in women’s resistance. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Zhao, Liming. “‘Nüshu’ de wenzi xue jiazhi” [The Philological Value of 'Nüshu']. Huazhong Shifan Daxue Xuebao Zhexue Shehui Kexue Ban [Journal of Huazhong Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition)] 6 (1989): 68-76. 

Zhao investigates the linguistic and philological aspects of nüshu. She explores the origin and structural features of nüshu, arguing that she is more convincing that nüshu is a script used by Han ethnicity rather than Yao ethnicity. She then argues further that this script is a dialect from Hanzi, and she calls on the scholarship to put emphasize on studying dialect language as well. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Zhao, Liming. “Nüshu: Chinese women’s characters.” International Journal of the Sociology of Language 1998, no. 129 (1998): 127-138. 9.

In this article, Zhao provides an overview of nüshu as a unique cultural heritage. She discusses its history and the social context in which it developed. Zhao argues that nüshu serves as a place for women to gather to do needlework. By singing nüshu poems, they expressed their joys and sorrows. It is also notable that many nüshu characters are related to women’s daily activities, such as embroidery, weaving, and paper cutting. She also believes nüshu is used only by the local women: the men do not understand nüshu, nor are they interested in it. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Zheng, Tiantian. “Contesting Heteronormality: Recasting Same-Sex Desire in China’s Past and Present.” Digital Commons @ Cortland, 2014. https://digitalcommons.cortland.edu/wagadu/vol12/iss1/2/. 

Bano, Shadab. “Rashid Jahan’s Writings: Resistance and Challenging Boundaries, Angaare and Onwards,” Indian Journal of Gender Studies 19, no. 1 (February 2012): 57-71.

In this article, Shadab Bano seeks to draw out through a reading of Rashid Jahan's fictional writings her distinct feminist concern with social justice. Reading a variety of Jahan’s fictional work from her seminal interventions in the collection of Urdu short stories Angaare to her later work like “Aurat” and “Woh”, Bano shows how for Jahan, the “political” and “literary” were inextricably inter-related. Further, Bano shows how the issues of equality and solidarity were central to Jahan’s political-literary agenda. However, and as Bano argues this did not mean that Jahan uncritically advocated for women’s rights by recourse to abstract and liberal notions of equality and freedom. Instead, and as Bano shows, Jahan’s writings are consistently marked with an attention to particularity and the ways in which themes of gender and sexuality intersect with different bodies differently. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Begum Khurshid Mirza, “My Sister, Rasheed Jahan, 1905-1952,” in A Woman of Substance: The Memoirs of Begum Khurshid Mirza, ed. Lubna Kazim (New Delhi: Zubaan, 2005), 86-105.

In this chapter that forms part of her broader memoirs, Begum Khurshid Mirza reflects on the life and work of her sister Rashid Jahan, one of the foremost Urdu activists and intellectuals of the 1930s and 1940s in India. Weaving her own personal recollections about Rashid Jahan with familial records and a larger account of the turbulent times that Jahan lived through, Mirza provides a complex and intimate portrait of Jahan, from her early days growing up in an upper-middle Muslim family, the heyday of her career as a writer, activist, and doctor, and finally to her untimely death in 1952. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Bhasin, Kamla, and Ritu Menon. Borders and Boundaries: Women in India's Partition. New Delhi: Kali for Women, 1998.

This book provides an in-depth look at the experiences of women during the Partition of India. Through interviews and testimonies, Bhasin and Menon reveal the extent of violence against women and how their bodies became symbolic battlegrounds. The authors explore themes of honour, shame, and survival, offering a critical feminist perspective on Partition. This work is instrumental in understanding the gendered impact of historical trauma and displacement. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Biswas, Sanjib Kr, and Priyanka Tripathi. The Gendered War: Evaluating Feminist Ethnographic Narratives of the 1971 War of Bangladesh. 2022.

This is an edited book by Biswajit and Priyanka. The book is divided into five chapters, with the significant theme recapitulating the gendered victims of the liberation war of Bangladesh and their narratives. After providing a historical perspective in the first chapter, the subsequent chapters are dedicated to writers from different backgrounds who have written on women and war in postcolonial history, gendered history feminist narratives and interestingly in fiction and literature. The book's central premise is to challenge women's marginalised position in the grand historical narratives of 1971. The authors use a postmodern lens and different sources, including oral history, ethnographic fiction, interviews, and memoirs, which provide a more nuanced history of the 1971 War. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli.

Butalia, Urvashi. ‘Community, State and Gender: On Women’s Agency during Partition’. Economic and Political Weekly 28, no. 17 (1993): WS12–24.

This article explores the concept of agency in the aftermath of the Partition of British India into India and Pakistan in 1947. Butalia uses a variety of sources like legislative acts, memoirs and personal accounts to discuss the agency women could exercise when faced with, violence, abduction and recovery under State programmes. She divides her work into three sections - Community, State and Gender - to argue that women had limited agency in choosing their fate, and possibly felt pressured to take decisions guided by the community, the State or its agents (women social workers involved in their recovery), in a bid to protect their perceived pride and the honour of the community. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Butalia, Urvashi. The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India. London: Duke University Press, 2000.

In this book, Butalia argues that most scholarship on the Partition at this time has concentrated on the high politics, i.e. State and its relation to the Partition and the subsequent effects on the State. Focusing on her own family history and interviews with women who were displaced during the mass migration and affected by the violence that came with Partition, Butalia highlights the missing voices of women, Dalit women and children. Butalia aims to write the stories of the women who experienced the partition, a side that, she argues, has been ignored largely by academia. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Butalia, Urvashi. The Other Side of Silence: Voices from the Partition of India. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 1998.

In this groundbreaking book, Butalia brings forth the untold stories of Partition survivors, particularly focusing on women, children, and lower-caste communities. Through detailed interviews and personal narratives, she uncovers the hidden histories and silences that have shaped collective memory. Butalia’s work is essential for understanding the human side of Partition, offering a poignant and powerful counter-narrative to official histories. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Chughtai, Ismat. ISMAT CHUGHTAI: A talk with one of Urdu’s most outspoken woman writers, interview by Mahfil, 1972.

In this frank and candid interview with the journal Mahfil, the famous Urdu feminist writer Ismat Chughtai recollects what led her to become a writer, her political commitments, and the reasons why, as she sees it, her work gained the prominence that it did. Apart from being one of the few and rare interviews available of Chughtai, the interview spans her reflections on a diverse range of topics that consistently blur the distinction between the public/private and consequently provide some important insights into the mind and lives of one of the most influential feminist writers of South-Asia. The topics covered by the interview include: her experience of growing up in Aligarh; marriage; pregnancy; colonial rule; the English novel; religion; ideology; and the political economy of publishing.  Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Chughtai, Ismat. “We People (Humlog),” in My Friend, My Enemy: Essays, Reminiscences, Portraits, trans. Tahira Naqvi (New Delhi: Kali for Women, 2001), 101-110.

Part of a larger collection which assembles Chughtai’s non-fictional writing, this autobiographical essay written in Bombay in 1970 provides a personal and vivid narrative of Chughtai’s early life. Chughtai starts by recounting how from an early age she indulged in activities traditionally reserved for boys, like playing football and hockey. She also writes at length about her favourite Azim Bhai who first taught her English and Geography and introduced her to the world of stories. Motivated by Azim Bhai, Chughtai reminisces how she wanted to make a living out of reading and writing and pursed a B.A in literature with this in mind. She recounts however that her definite literary and political awakening came when she first met Rashid Jahan, whose boldness convinced her that real literature was not about mere sentimentalism but always and inherently political. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Coppola, Carlo and Sajda Zubair, “Rashid Jahan: Urdu Literature’s First ‘Angry Young Woman,’” Journal of South Asian Literature 22, no. 1 (1987).

Bestowing upon her the epithet, Urdu literature’s “First Angry Young Woman”, in this article Carlo Copolla and Sajda Zubair provide a comprehensive overview of the life, work, and legacy of Rashid Jahan. For the authors, any evaluation of Jahan's work is incomplete without embedding her writings within the larger puritanical and patriarchal milieu in which she wrote. To that end the authors divide this article thematically, providing first a biographical sketch of Jahan’s life before moving to probe how her social and political milieu affected her literary work. The authors end with a critical re-appraisal of Jahan’s legacy, arguing that her importance lies in ushering a literary and political sensibility committed to correcting and re-adjusting the inequities that she witnessed during her lifetime. Apart from providing a well-structured introduction to Jahan, it is notable that the authors supplement Jahan’s own writings with a range of secondary sources like interviews and oral testimonies allowing them to re-construct her life from a diversity of perspectives. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Das, Veena, and Ashis Nandy. "Violence, Victimhood, and the Language of Silence." Contributions to Indian Sociology 19, no. 1, 1985.

This article explores the intersection of violence, victimhood, and silence, particularly in the context of Indian society. Das and Nandy delve into how violence is not only a physical act but also a cultural and linguistic phenomenon. The article discusses how the language of silence operates in the aftermath of violence, impacting victims' ability to articulate their experiences. It provides a theoretical framework for understanding the social and psychological dimensions of violence and is essential for anyone studying postcolonial trauma and recovery. Annotated by Ishan Kaur Khalsa. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Das, Veena. Critical Events: An Anthropological Perspective on Contemporary India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Through this book Veena Das explores various events in Indian history, like the Partition, and reframes them within anthropological terms. She explores how these events have transformed the conceptions of honour, purity and martyrdom. Not only does Das explore these transformations but also how these transformations have been appropriated by various actors, political, religious and women’s and caste groups. In the chapter on the Partition she explores the ideas of nation and nationhood through the experience of the women who were abducted and recovered by the State, and the status of the children they had with the men who had abducted them. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

De Alwis, Malathi. “The Moral Mother Syndrome.” Indian Journal of Gender Studies 11, no. 1 (February 1, 2004): 65–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/097152150401100105.

In this paper,  Malathi De Alwis explores a problematic facet of Sinhala nationalism in Sri Lanka, focusing on the mythical queen Vihara Maha Devi as a moral and maternal figure. She has developed the main argument of this paper on Micaela di Leonardo's idea of "peace through violence," contextualising it to the violence of the Sinhalese majority against minorities in Sri Lanka. Her primary sources are the textbooks the states utilise to idealise and legitimise the specific story of Vihara Maha Devi, the "Moral Mother." The textbooks narrate the past when Vihara Maha Devi advocated and maintained peace through morally justified violence. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Hussein, Aamer. “The Good Doctor: Though Long Neglected in Translation, Rashid Jahan Blazed a Trail for Urdu Writers,” The Caravan.

In this article for The Caravan, the Pakistani critic and short story writer, Aamer Hussein provides a critical review of Rakhshanda Jalil’s latest book, A Rebel and Her Cause: The Life and Work of Rashid Jahan, the first comprehensive English-language translated work of the Urdu writer and activist, Rashid Jahan. Along with providing an overview of the various pieces by Jahan included in the volume by Jalil, Hussein also helpfully situates Jalil’s intervention, reading Jalil alongside other works that have previously either directly engaged with or translated Jahan’s writings. On a whole Hussein deems A Rebel and a Cause as a laudable exercise, particularly praising Jalil for accompanying her translations with pertinent biographical vignettes and historical facts. One cavil however for Hussein is that what doesn’t completely come through in the translation is the distinct lucidity and precision that usually accompanies Jahan’s prose in the original Urdu. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Imam, Jahanara. Ekattorer Dinguli. 1986. Accessed April 25, 2024. http://archive.org/details/03.EkattorerDinguliJahanaraImam. 

Ekattorer Dinguli is an autobiography by Jahanara Imam written between March and December 1971. This memoir provides a profound firsthand account of the liberation struggle. What is extraordinary about this memoir is that it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit during crises, particularly war, where the ordinary and the extraordinary intertwine. Imam's narrative in the memoir captures the turmoil and urgency of the times, giving an account of her personal experiences with the broader political fate of the nation. The memoir also follows an emotional journey of allowing Imam's son to join the war. The memoir ends with a puzzle between pursuing positive transformation necessitating profound personal and collective costs. In her memoir, she poignantly captures the struggle between the aspiration for freedom and the enormous sacrifices it requires, illustrating how the joy of newfound liberation is often fleeting and overshadowed by the heavy price paid for it. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Jahan, Rashid. “Woh (The One),” in Women Writing in India: 600 BC to the Present, Volume II: The Twentieth Century, ed. Susie Tharu and K. Lalita (New York: The Feminist Press, 1993),119-122.

In “Woh”, Rashid Jahan stages an unlikely encounter between a young and idealistic upper-middle-class female doctor and a prostitute suffering from venereal disease. The story describes the different prejudices and emotions the young doctor confronts as she attempts to treat the prostitute. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Jahan, Rashid. “In the Women’s Quarters,” in Angaaray, trans. Snehal Shingavi (Gurgaon: Penguin Random House, 2014), 111-134.

In this one-act play, Jahan introduces her readers to a conversation between Mahmudi Begum and Aftab Begum, two well-to do Muslim women discussing the oppressiveness of family life. Although Aftab tells Mahmudi that she is lucky as unlike her she at least has a husband, Mahmudi, who is the younger of the two complains how she has been expected to have a child every year since she has gotten married and the toll that this has taken on her body. Even though her doctor has warned her against having repeated pregnancies Mahmudi’s husband refuses to abstain, and threatens Mahmudi, telling her that if she resists his advances, he will marry another woman for he needs a woman to cater to his sexual needs on all days. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Jahan, Rashid. “Seeing the Sights in Delhi,” in Angaaray, trans. Snehal Shingavi (Gurgaon: Penguin Books, 2014), 105-110.

In this short story by Rashid Jahan, the protagonist Malika Begum relates her experience of an uneventful trip to Delhi made with her husband. Although the trip originally resulted in a lot of excitement, once the couple arrive in Delhi, the husband leaves Malika to go meet a male friend, leaving her in her burqa to look after the luggage at the train-station. The rest of the story deals with the (physical and emotional) ordeal that Malika has to go through waiting for her husband to return in the scorching heat and amidst the leer of other men. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Jalil, Rakhshanda. “Rashid Jahan: The Bad Girl of Urdu Literature,” The Friday Times, January 2012.

This article provides a biographical introduction to the life, work, and legacy of Rashid Jahan. Organised chronologically, Jalil traces Jahan’s life from growing up as a young girl in Aligarh to her untimely death in Moscow in 1952. Working with Jahan’s own writings and the accounts of those close to Jahan, Jalil constructs an intriguing narrative that details the different people, ideas, and movements that moulded and shaped Jahan. Throughout, Jalil shows how a concern with gender and sexuality came to not only mark Jahan’s writings but also her political commitments. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Jussawalla, Feroza, and Doaa Omran, eds. Muslim Women's Writing from across South and Southeast Asia. New York: Routledge, 2022.

This book, edited by Feroza Omran and Doaa Jussawalla, collects Muslim women's writings from different South and Southeast Asian countries. The book employs several analytical methods and lenses, including social media, romance novels, memoirs, oral histories, and poetry, to provide a diverse perspective on women's lives in this region. The chapter Ten of this book by Debali Mookerjea-Leonard, is titled "A Mother in a War: Jahanara Imam's Ekattorer Dinguli." Here, the author focuses on the memoir "Ekattorer Dinguli." However, she has also used several other fiction and short stories Jahanara Imam wrote to better understand her life and work. She explores women's role in the liberation war through the lens of this memoir, setting her narrative against the debates that portray women as natural pacifists. Leonard recognises Jahanara Imam as a nationalist, embodying the national struggle through her actions, writings, and personal sacrifices. Her life and work resonate with the ideals of nationalism—fighting for the country's freedom and seeking justice for its people, which is interesting. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Manto, Saadat Hasan. "Open It." In For Freedom's Sake: Selected Stories and Sketches, translated and edited by Mohammad Asaduddin, 131-134. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2001 [1950].

Manto’s short story "Open It" is a harrowing depiction of the human cost of Partition. The story centres on the traumatic experience of Sakina, a young girl who becomes a victim of the communal violence that ensued during the Partition of India. Manto's narrative highlights the brutality inflicted on women and the deep scars it left on the survivors. This piece is crucial for understanding the personal and emotional impact of Partition on individuals, particularly women. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Menon, Ritu, and Kamla Bhasin. Borders and Boundaries: Women in India’s Partition. New Delhi: Kali for Women, 1998.

Menon and Bhasin’s book examines the impact of the Partition on women, using oral histories and personal testimonies to reveal the gendered dimensions of this historical event. The authors highlight how women’s bodies became battlegrounds for honour and communal identity, and how their experiences were often silenced or marginalized in mainstream narratives. This work is significant for its contribution to feminist historiography and for providing a platform for women's voices in the context of Partition. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Patel, Geeta. “Homely Housewives Run Amok: Lesbians in Marital Fixes,” Public Culture 16, no. 1 (January 1, 2004): 131–158.

The primary argument presented by Geeta Patel in this paper is that different constructions of national identity within South Asia, whether colonial, postcolonial, or diasporic have all historically been rendered and registered through the passive, homely, and domesticated figure of the “woman.” Arguing for the need to resist this figuration, Patel analyses two aberrant instance of resistance to this figuration. Taking Ismat Chughtai’s fictional writings and a case of same-sex marriages between two policewomen in India, Patel explores what it might mean to understand the figure of the “woman” not through circulations of the domestic which is inevitably marked by heterosexual desire, but as unhomely, amok, and deviant. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Pritam, Amrita. Skeleton. Translated by Khushwant Singh. New Delhi: Tara Press, 2002.

Originally titled Pinjar in Punjabi, Skeleton tells the harrowing story of Puro, a young woman abducted during the Partition. Through Puro's experiences, Pritam explores themes of identity, honour, and resilience. The novel provides a deep emotional insight into the struggles of women who faced abduction and forced marriages during this period. Khushwant Singh's translation captures the lyrical quality of Pritam's prose, making it accessible to a wider audience while preserving its poignant impact. This novel is crucial for understanding the gendered dimensions of Partition and the strength of women's resilience. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Saiduzzafar, Hamida. “JSAL Interviews DR. HAMIDA SAIDUZZAFAR: A Conversation with Rashid Jahan’s Sister-in-Law, Aligarh, 1973,” Journal of South Asian Literature, 22, no. 1 (1987): 158–65.

An interview conducted by the Journal of South Asian Literature with Hamida Saiduzzafar, in 1973, Rashid Jahan’s sister-in-law and close friend, and published in their journal in 1987. The interview primarily revolves around re-constructing the life of Rashid Jahan, in particular by understanding the various influences that different people and events had on Jahan throughout her life. Responding to prompts given by the interviewers, Hamida Saiduzzafar provides a first-hand perspective of what it was like to not only know, but to also to be a close friend of Jahan. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Saikia, Yasmin. Women, War, and the Making of Bangladesh: Remembering 1971. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2011.

This fascinating book about the liberation war in Bangladesh offers a hidden alternative story about women's memories of the war. She has used a multi-sited ethnographic methodology in the book that combines working with oral history, archival works, and literary and visual materials. The book has made many interesting encounters against amnesia in the official narratives of the liberation war. She has argued how popular historiography silences women who have experienced violence during war, objectifying and dehumanising them. Against the victimisation trap, she has written several stories of women who experienced indescribable violence and marginalisation along the way yet emerged as agents of change both in their lives and in others. Another point that should be mentioned and appreciated about the book is that she has also interviewed some men who did violence against women during the war, offering insights into their actions and their attempts to reconcile with their past brutality. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Schendel, Willem van. A History of Bangladesh. Second edition. Cambridge, United Kingdom ; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2020.

This book, authored by William van Schendel, serves as an excellent resource for those interested in an introductory history of Bangladesh. It provides a comprehensive account of Bangladesh's history, starting from the British colonial period through the partition of Bengal, its incorporation into Pakistan, and the subsequent conflict with Pakistan that led to its independence. The book aims to depict contemporary Bangladesh, explaining how its society functions and offering an overview of the nation's journey to its present state. What I find most interesting about the book is that Schendel hugely focuses on the narrative material perspective, transcending the apologetic interpretation of history. For example, he explains that Bangladesh joined Pakistan, not India, in 1947 to avoid the assumed economic exploitation under a Hindu majoritarian rule in India. Another interesting point he points out is the crisis between nationalist leaders and how their disagreement over fundamental issues shaped independent Bangladesh's political history. Schendel's book provides a thorough historical account of Bangladesh and a sophisticated analysis of the country's socio-political development. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Sidhwa, Bapsi. Ice-Candy-Man. New Delhi: Penguin Books India, 1989.

Ice-Candy-Man is a novel by Bapsi Sidhwa that vividly portrays the events of the Partition through the eyes of a young Parsi girl, Lenny. The narrative captures the communal tensions, violence, and the impact on ordinary people, particularly women. Sidhwa’s storytelling provides a deeply personal and emotional perspective on the historical events, making it a valuable text for understanding the socio-cultural ramifications of Partition. Annotated by Ishankaur Khalsa. 

Menon, Ritu, and Kamla Bhasin. ‘Recovery, Rupture, Resistance: Indian State and Abduction of Women during Partition’. Economic and Political Weekly 28, no. 17 (1993): WS2–11.

This article uses parliamentary debates, memoirs of women social workers and official records to explore the Abducted Person’s (Recovery and Restoration) Act of 1949 and its predecessor, the Inter-Dominion Treaty of 1947, and the ramifications on the women who were recovered under the aegis of this Act. Menon and Bhasin argue that the State represented itself as the guardian of the abducted women and their recovery became a question of national honour. They highlight the lack of agency coded into the Act by focusing on the debates that preceded it, and the accounts of the social workers who were tasked by the State with recovering women from across the border. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Mir, Raza and Ali Husain Mir, Anthems of Resistance: A Celebration of Progressive Urdu Poetry (New Delhi: Roli Books, 2006).

Raza Mir and Ali Husain Mir’s Anthems of Resistance details the tradition of political resistance nurtured by a generation of poets, writers, and artists in the South-Asian subcontinent, especially as it was institutionalised within the aegis of the Progressive Writers Movement (PWM). Conceptualised as a valorisation of this aesthetic and political movement, Anthems of Resistance provided a lucid account of the history of this literary movement and tradition, and in doing so also provide a highly accessible transliteration of some of the major poems associated with its members. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Pandey, Gyanendra. Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism and History in India. Cambridge University Press, 2001.

This book analyses the violence that accompanied Partition of 1947 and they ways in which it is remembered. Gyanendra Pandey looks closely at the manner in which Partition history has been written and argues that Partition history writing and memory making are employed as a means of community building. He critiques the manner in which Partition history is written, exploring questions on the nature of violence and memorialisation of violence. He explores the manner in which the Partition violence has transformed in meaning over the years commenting on the manner in which events are interpreted through time and the way these interpretations are used for nation-building. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Pandey, Gyanendra. ‘The Long Life of Rumor’. Alternatives: Global, Local, Political 27, no. 2 (2002): 165–91.

This article explores the role of rumours in the memory and history writing of the violence that followed the Partition on British India. Pandey examines three types of sources, primary, like newspaper articles and First Information Reports; secondary, the reports of the officials and politicised writing of the violence; and tertiary which he says is history writing per se. He argues that history writing of the Partition is largely still stuck in the trap of these rumours and conflations, and when analysing them it is not about establishing the truth of these claims but understanding how much of history writing is dependent on these rumours. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Panigrahi, Devendra. India’s Partition: The Story of Imperialism in Retreat. London: Routledge, 2004. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203324882. 

This book explores the events that led to decolonization in British India, and the Partition of 1947. Panigrahi offers special focus to the role Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League played in the creation of Pakistan and argues that an analysis of the events preceding Partition shows that it was not inevitable, but a consequence of a series of events that occurred, and decisions that were taken, in Britain and British India. He uses a mixture of personal correspondence, official records and memoirs to trace the last few years of colonization in the continent and examines how it all led to the split between the territories, a conclusion that was not or favoured, but accepted as the best possible option at the time. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Priyamvada Gopal. Literary Radicalism in India: Gender, Nation, and the Transition to Independence (New York: Routledge, 2005).

In this book, Priyamvada Gopal taking as her study the writings, films, and pamphlets of key individuals associated with the Progressive Writers Movement (PWM), the most influential literary movement of the 20th century in India. The author examines the connection between literary subjectivity, political consciousness, and representation. While each chapter is framed around tracing how these connected themes manifest within the work of one particular writer or artist, a common theme that Gopal emphasises with particular nuance throughout her book is the importance of gender and sexuality in the construction of the different cultural discourses that the various people she study articulate. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Shingavi, Snehal. “Introduction,” in Angaaray (Gurgaon: Penguin Books, 2014), vii-xxiii 

In his introduction to the English-Translated collection of short stories Angarey, an explosive collection of Urdu short stories whose writers were seeking to initiate a new and radical trend in Urdu literature, Snehal Shingavi helpfully contextualizes the political and intellectual motivations that initially led its writers to publish Angarey. Along with providing a brief description of the stories contained in the volume, Shingavi traces how the writers of Angarey were seeking to push beyond the mere rhetoric of reform by politicizing Urdu literature. To this end, and as Shingavi argues, for the Angarey group this meant moving from the aristocratic and formal language of the Urdu novel and towards the more colloquial language of the ordinary and everyday, represented in the group’s view by the short-story format. In addition, and turning to the colonial documents from that period, Shingavi also explores the wave of protests that were unleashed by various conservative forces in response to the publication and the confident and defiant response of the targeted writers to this criticism. Annotated by Devarya Srivastava.

Virdee, Pippa. ‘Negotiating the Past’. Cultural and Social History 6, no. 4 (1 December 2009): 467–83. https://doi.org/10.2752/147800409X466290. 

This article explores the issue of Partition from the point of view of the Muslim women in West Punjab who were abducted and rehabilitated. Pippa Virdee primarily relies on a combination of official records, newspapers articles and the testimonies of the women to understand how women who were at the forefront of the violence of Partition, especially the women who were abducted and recovered are viewed in the official records and in their own testimonies, whether as victims or actors with their own agency. Virdee maintains that the experience of Muslim women in Pakistan who were affected by the violence has been shrouded in silence, in favour of their male counterparts, and attempts to understand their history and give a voice to their experiences. Annotation by Aishwarya Agarwal.

Abdelrazek-Alsiefy, Amany. Modern Egyptian Women, Fashion and Faith: Discourses and Representations. Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG. 2023. 

This book analyzes how fashion, spirituality, and class shape the identities of contemporary Egyptian women. Abdelrazek-Alsiefy explores how clothing choices reflect and balance these often conflicting factors. The book looks at the historical setting of colonialism and how it affected Muslim women's opinions, as well as the influence of nationalism and the creation of "modest fashion." It investigates representations of Egyptian women in Western thought and literature, advocating for a more comprehensive understanding that goes beyond stereotypes. The book also investigates how social media influences modern fashion trends and portrayals of Egyptian women. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Aly, Menat. "Gender Washing Autocracies in Egypt: Drawing on the Presidency’s Of Anwar El Sadat and Hosni Mubarak." Master's thesis, American University in Cairo. 2023.

This thesis looks at the concept of "gender washing," which refers to authoritarian governments using women's rights rhetoric and measures to legitimize their authority both locally and globally. Aly examines how Egypt's presidents Anwar El Sadat and Hosni Mubarak used gender-related projects to improve their image and deflect criticism. The study examines government policies, statements, and the role of first ladies in perpetuating this image. Aly contends that these attempts ultimately contributed to reinforce patriarchal power systems and did not result in significant advances for women's rights. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Amrane, Djamila, and Farida Abu-Haidar. ‘Women and Politics in Algeria from the War of Independence to Our Day’. Research in African Literatures 30, no. 3 (1999): 62–77. https://doi.org/10.1353/ral.1999.0003.

Drawing from memoirs, journals and other secondary sources, this paper links women who fought in the Algerian War of Independence with women who demonstrated in the streets for gender equality in the 1990s. Despite women’s contribution to the War of Independence, their participation was hardly recognized or accepted by some militants. Following independence, some advances in women’s rights (such as the right to work and education) were made, but women were still poorly represented in the newly independent state. The Family Code was one major step back in women’s rights. After the new constitution in 1989 granted people the right to form associations, more women participated in the political arena and resisted the religious fundamentalists. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. ‘Hijab in Iran: From Religious to Political Symbol’. 13 October 2022, Accessed 5 December 2022. https://carnegieendowment.org/sada/88152, 

This blog article analysed the ongoing protest in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini from two aspects: Iranian women’s struggle for freedom of choice and the anti-government movement. The prominent role of women in the movement, its diverse geographic spread, and the support from almost all social classes makes this protest different from previous ones. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Decker, Jeffrey Louis. ‘Terrorism (Un) Veiled: Frantz Fanon and the Women of Algiers’. Cultural Critique, no. 17 (1990): 177. https://doi.org/10.2307/1354144.

This paper aims to theorize the politics of femininity in relation to the anticolonial struggles of Algerian women. Two accounts of the veiled Algerian women, namely the victim of Muslim orthodoxy in the western discourse and the revolutionary agent of decolonization, were articulated. Through the unpacking of Fanon’s essay “Algeria Unveiled”, Jeffrey argued that Algerian women acted their political agency through the manipulation of the veil and the deployment of the violent “technique of terrorism”. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Elia, Nada. “Bodies of land: feminism and decolonisation”. The Architectural Review. 25 March, 2024.

This essay contends that feminism, as a broad liberation movement, is inextricably tied to efforts to decolonize land. According to Elia, women's bodies commonly become battlegrounds during power struggles, serving as symbols of conquest or targets for conquerors to eliminate. She cites the example of French conquerors in Algeria openly stripping Muslim women of their headscarves in the name of "modernizing" Algerian culture, a practice that persists in modern Europe, where Muslim women are frequently barred from veiling. Elia condemns this cultural imposition, claiming that it undermines their faith under the guise of "liberation." She also emphasizes the role of French women, notably military commanders' wives, in this act, exposing the complicated dynamics of power and complicity in colonial situations. This essay is consistent with other sources, such as Salem's work, which emphasizes the importance of moving beyond state-centric narratives of decolonization and acknowledging the contributions of radical groups, especially feminists, in resisting colonial legacy. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

ElTayeb, Salah ElDin ElZein. ‘The ‘Ulama and Islamic Renaissance in Algeria’. American Journal of Islam and Society 6, no. 2 (1 December 1989): 257–88. https://doi.org/10.35632/ajis.v6i2.2825.

This paper aimed to answer how the liberation of Algeria was facilitated by the Algerian religious renaissance led by the Algerian “Ulama”. It traced back to the origins of the Islamic renaissance in Algeria. The practice of Salafiyah, instead of the Sufi sects, was promoted, which is important for the independence movement, as the Sufi religious leaders were in support of French colonial rule. The reform in religious, social and cultural aspects of Algeria prepared the Algerian masses morally and psychologically for independence from France. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Fanon, Frantz . ‘Algeria Unveiled’. Decolonization, 24 February 2004, 60–73. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203485521-9.

This article is one of the most classic analyses of the politicization of the veil in Algeria between the colonizers and the nationalists. The colonial power saw the Algerian women behind the veil as “the frontier of colonialism” and attempted to dominate the veil. However, such action gave the veil a special meaning to the nationalists. Algerian women used the veil as “a technique of camouflage” and terrorized the colonizer. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Galián, Laura. "Decolonising sexuality in Egypt: al-Tatawwur’s struggle for liberation." Postcolonial Studies. 2020. https://doi.org/10.1080/13688790.2020.1762289. 

This article investigates the activities of the Egyptian feminist group al-Tatawwur in terms of decolonizing sexuality. According to Galián, al-Tatawwur questioned the mainstream narrative that framed sexual emancipation only as a Western idea, asking for an understanding based on Egyptian experiences and reality. The article emphasizes the organization's focus on reproductive rights, sexual violence, and LGBTQ+ rights, framing their work as a form of resistance to both patriarchal standards and colonial legacies. Galián underlines the significance of situating al-Tatawwur's action within the larger historical context of Egyptian feminism and its ongoing battle for social and political change. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Gordon, Ruth Frimpomaa Anarfi. "The Evolution of Colonial Legacy and Social Status of Women, a Case Study of Egypt between 1952-2016." PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences 7 (3) 2021: 59–81.

This article investigates the emergence of women's social position in Egypt from 1952 to 2016, emphasizing the impact of colonial legacy. Gordon contends that, while colonialism instituted legislative reforms aimed at women's emancipation, it simultaneously maintained patriarchal structures and generated new forms of oppression. She investigates how postcolonial Egypt dealt with these legacies, noting both progress in women's rights and ongoing obstacles. The article also analyzes how international institutions such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) shape women's discourse and policy in Egypt by adopting external pressure on the government to comply with women's rights. This more often than not results in gender washing from the government’s side to enhance its image, coupled with a denial and oversight of structural issues from the organizations side that results in structural issues persisting and women rights remaining intact. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Kimble, Sara L. ‘Emancipation through Secularization: French Feminist Views of Muslim Women’s Condition in Interwar Algeria’. French Colonial History 7, no. 1 (2006): 109–28. https://doi.org/10.1353/fch.2006.0006.

This article studied the view of interwar French feminists on the condition of Muslim women in Algeria. Their understanding is largely impacted by the perception of Muslim women as victims of the patriarchal order rooted in the Islamic religion. An imperial approach to modernize Algeria through secularization was supported by the feminists. While the 1804 Civil Code was criticized by feminists in France for bringing inequality between French men and women, they advocated its imposition in Algeria to supplant Islamic law. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Lazreg, Marnia. ‘Gender and Politics in Algeria: Unraveling the Religious Paradigm’. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 15, no. 4 (July 1990): 755–80. https://doi.org/10.1086/494627.

Lazreg reviewed gender, religion and politics in Algeria from the French colonial period until the end of the 1980s. Women’s issues were used by the French rulers and the nationalists for their own interests. After independence, women’s rights became less useful for the new objective of development and industrialization, thus the political leaders had an attitude shift toward women. The 1984 Family Code was a major backlash against women’s status. However, since 1989 organizations for women’s rights have been recognized by the law. Women’s reentry into the public space might start a new era for gender relations in Algeria. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Leonhardt, Adrienne. ‘Between Two Jailers: Women’s Experience During Colonialism, War, and Independence in Algeria’. Anthos 5, no. 1 (2013): 43–54. https://doi.org/10.15760/anthos.2013.43.

Through a chronological historical analysis of the role of women in the Algerian war, this paper shows that despite women’s brave actions and sacrifices during the revolution, their contribution to the liberation struggle was largely seen as symbolic. Women’s identity was appropriated for ideological purposes by both Algerian and French forces, while on the other hand women’s voices were kept out of the mainstream discourse and few tangible benefits were brought for women. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Lisiecka, Julia. "Re-Reading Huda Shaarawi's 'Harem Years'–Bargaining with the Patriarchy in the Changing Egypt." The SOAS Journal of Postgraduate Research 8 2015: 46-58.

This article looks at the legacy of Huda Shaarawi, a well-known Egyptian feminist. It contradicts both patriarchal structures and Western orientalist views of harem life. According to Lisiecka, Shaarawi believed that the social and class structure of Egyptian culture, not the faith of Islam, which she felt was misunderstood and abused, was the main cause of gender disparity. She blamed patriarchal culture and elitist traditions, not Islamic teachings, for women's subjugation. By opposing these perverted social norms and recovering the authentic liberating message of Islam, she aimed to free women. The study also looks at the rise of feminism within the context of Egypt's national struggle in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. According to Lisiecka, the oppressed gained a voice during this transformative period, but were later marginalized as the national movement emphasized the return to patriarchal systems as a form of decolonization. Shaarawi's distinct perspective, influenced by figures such as Virginia Woolf and her own social and cultural capital, allowed her to navigate the complexities of nationalism, feminism, and Islam. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Okavi-Partush, S., Kama, A., Barak-Brandes, S.  ‘Chapter 5: It won’t go straight: curly-haired women tell their stories’. In Feminist Interrogations of Women’s Head Hair. Routledge, 2018.

Okavi-Partush, Kama and Barak-Brandes focus on the various experiences lived by curly-haired Jewish-Israeli women, and how they navigate between the cultural pressures and personal struggles they face in conforming to beauty standards through different phases of their lives. As straight hair seems to be considered as the beauty standard, as it is the case in many other parts of the world, it is often also linked to broader societal standards such as professionalism, neatness and attractiveness. In contrast, curly hair is frequently perceived as unruly, dirty or unprofessional. These dynamic impacts – consciously or unconsciously – women’s self-esteem and their sense of worth. This article puts in conversation different societal constructs and pressures weighing on women, and their way to challenge and reshape beauty norms.

Perego, Elizabeth. ‘The Veil or a Brother’s Life: French Manipulations of Muslim Women’s Images during the Algerian War, 1954–62’. The Journal of North African Studies 20, no. 3 (27 May 2015): 349–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/13629387.2015.1013942.

This paper examined the motivation behind the French ruler’s emancipation campaign for Algerian women in an international historical context. By doing so, the author argues that the emancipation campaign was not purely to assist Algerian women, but to posit France as the “modernising saviours” and thus legitimize their colonial rule. Additionally, the paper also investigated how the French fabricated their ideal images of Algerian women and how the French army exploited Muslim women and their bodies during the same period of the campaign. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Salem, Sara. "Four Women of Egypt: Memory, Geopolitics, and the Egyptian Women’s Movement during the Nasser and Sadat Eras." Hypatia 32 (3) 2017: 593–608.

This article examines the intricacies and ambiguities of Egypt's women's movement throughout the Nasser and Sadat eras through the oral histories of four Egyptian women activists: Ceza Nabarawi, Latifa al-Zayyat, Nawal El Saadawi, and Aida Seif al-Dawla. Salem focuses on the women's participation with socialist and feminist ideas, how they navigate state-sponsored feminism, and their experiences with jail and censorship. She underlines their global ties and involvement in larger feminist movements. The article highlights the multiplicity of voices in Egyptian feminism, as well as the problems they encountered in a fast changing political and social scene. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Salem, Sara. "Trajectories of Anticolonialism in Egypt." E-International Relations (blog). April 3, 2019. https://www.e-ir.info/2019/04/03/trajectories-of-anticolonialism-in-egypt/. 

This essay investigates how Egypt's anticolonial movements aimed to "decolonize the international," advocating for a new global order that acknowledged the sovereignty of formerly colonized countries. Salem contends that, while leaders such as Gamal Abdel Nasser concentrated on state-led growth and access to the existing international realm, radical groups such as women, workers, and students envisioned more revolutionary forms of international cooperation that extended beyond the nation-state. She emphasizes the significance of the Bandung Conference and its call for cooperation in the Global South. Salem also attacks Nasserism's reliance on capitalist development, as well as its limits in terms of actual decolonization. Annotated by Amira Fekry.

Thoral, Marie-Cecile. ‘Sartorial Orientalism: Cross-Cultural Dressing in Colonial Algeria and Metropolitan France in the Nineteenth Century’. European History Quarterly 45, no. 1 (January 2015): 57–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265691414556060.

This article discussed the role of dress in cross-cultural encounters in a colonial context. The author assessed the association between imperial power relations and cross-cultural dressing by comparing sartorial orientalism in France and Algeria. The attitude and policies related to Western and Algerian clothing among French settlers, Algerian Muslims and Algerian Jews within Algeria are also discussed to show the dynamics of (counter)assimilation, control and resistance between the colonizer and the colonized. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Turshen, Meredeth. ‘Algerian Women in the Liberation Struggle and the Civil War: From Active Participants to Passive Victims?’ Social Research 69, no. 3 (2002): 889–911. https://www.jstor.org/stable/40971577.

The author tried to find out why once as fighters during the independent war, Algerian women became targets in the civil war and how Algerian women thought of their situations after independence. To answer the questions, the author reviewed Algerian women’s participation in the War of Independence, their rights and participation in public life after independence, how the Islamists and the government targeted women during civil war to gain control over the population, and Algerian women’s response to the violence and injustice against them. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Vince, Natalya. ‘Transgressing Boundaries: Gender, Race, Religion, and “Françaises Musulmanes” during the Algerian War of Independence’. French Historical Studies 33, no. 3 (1 August 2010): 445–74. https://doi.org/10.1215/00161071-2010-005.

Drawing on original research in Algeria, interviews with female combatants, and French military and FLN internal documents, this article focused on the construction of “French Muslim women” by the colonial power, FLN and Algerian women themselves. The author also explored the interplay of gender, race and religion in this process, which has a lasting impact on France and Algeria today. Annotated by Wenqin Zhang.

Anderson, David M. “Guilty Secrets: Deceit, Denial, and the Discovery of Kenya’s ‘Migrated Archive.’” History Workshop Journal 80, no. 1 (October 2015): 142–60. https://doi.org/10.1093/hwj/dbv027. 

This article describes how the British empire established, migrated, and destructed secret archives on its colonial history in Kenya based on its interest. The author, as the Expertise Witness of the High Court case, examined thousands of documents that were secretly retained by the British since 1963. Although the readers cannot know what was finally destroyed, the revealed context in these documents shows the efforts of the British empire to refuse and delete the deeply contested history, especially during the Mau Mau rebellion. This article provides background knowledge of the primary sources of the Mau Mau rebellion. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Anderson, David M., and Julianne Weis. “The Prosecution of Rape in Wartime: Evidence from the Mau Mau Rebellion, Kenya 1952–60.” Law and History Review 36, no. 2 (May 2018): 267–94. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0738248017000670. 

This article focuses on how rape was used as a systematic political weapon on women, mainly Kikuyu women, under the State of Emergency in the 1950s. It refers to the archival materials of the Hanslope Disclosure. It is based on the personal experience of Jane Mara, a female Mau Mau supporter. It scrutinizes the action of military and violence in detention camps. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Bell, Erin. “‘A Most Horrifying Maturity in Crime’: Age, Gender and Juvenile Delinquency in Colonial Kenya during the Mau Mau Uprising.” Atlantic Studies 11, no. 4 (October 2, 2014): 473–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/14788810.2014.959836. 

This article analyses the difficulty for the British colonizers to impose metropolitan legal discourses on young boys and girls in colonial settings, here in Kenya in the 1950s. It provides background knowledge of the Mau Mau rebellion: how unsuitable colonial policies were implemented, and resentment rose and became the large-scale rebellion. It refers to secondary journal articles and governmental reports. This article offers supplementary information to this blog on long-existing 'failed' colonial policies and relevant resistance in Kenya. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Bruce-Lockhart, Katherine. “‘Unsound’ Minds and Broken Bodies: The Detention of ‘Hardcore’ Mau Mau Women at Kamiti and Gitamayu Detention Camps in Kenya, 1954–1960.” Journal of Eastern African Studies 8, no. 4 (October 2, 2014): 590–608. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2014.948148. 

This article examined how the British used systematic violence against women in Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya and how their voices were largely not heard. It focused on how the British constructed the narratives that connected gender, deviancy, and mental health, which influenced the general image of Kenyan women. The research uses evidence newly released from the Hanslope Park Archive to show the violent treatment of women particularly in detention camps. This blog refers to it to demonstrate that the British colonizers acknowledged women's resistance in the Mau Mau Rebellion. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

“Female Genital Mutilation.” Accessed December 7, 2022. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/female-genital-mutilation. 

This is the official website of the World Health Organization. This blog uses the definition and description of female genital mutilation from it since it is considered the most authoritative and widely accepted. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

“Feminism in the Mau Mau Resurgence.” Accessed December 6, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021909604048253. 

This article investigated the causes of the Mau Mau rebellion from a feminist perspective. It addresses the voice of landless women, connecting resistance to the land economy and gender study. It uses gendered class analysis to examine resistance to enclosure in Africa. It helps this blog in the information on the participants and the roles that females played in the Mau Mau rebellion. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Geiger, Susan. “Tanganyikan Nationalism as ‘Women’s Work’: Life Histories, Collective Biography and Changing Historiography.” The Journal of African History 37, no. 3 (1996): 465–78.

In this paper Geiger reflects on historiography and her own approach to conducting research on the life histories of TANU women activists. As she notes, the biographical attention of historians is usually focused either on exceptional people or completely ordinary ones who can be taken as representative of a broader population. In the case of Tanganyikan nationalism it thus focused on the work and lives of few extraordinary men, leaving an obvious gap in regard to Bibi Titi Mohamed as an equally extraordinary woman activist. As she reflects the ambition of writing Bibi Titi’s live story motivated the beginning of her research, which concluded however in documenting the essential work of thousands of women activists that shaped and propagated Tanganyikan national consciousness. These women she thus situates beyond the simple dichotomy as neither singularly extraordinary nor ordinary but significant in their collective work, calling for a collective biographical account. Annotated by Franziska Köstler.

Geiger, Susan. TANU Women: Gender and Culture in the Making of Tanganyikan Nationalism, 1955-1965. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 1997.

This book presents a history of Tanganyikan nationalism from 1955 to 1965 through the accounts of the numerous TANU women that were central to its embodiment, performance, and construction. At the heart of the narrative are more than 20 life history interviews Susan Geiger conducted between 1984 and 1992 in Tanzania in Swahili and English. Long sections of these interviews are transcribed in the book with Geiger’s analysis framing rather than interrupting the personal narratives. The original impetus for the work was capturing Bibi Titi Mohamed’s life story which occupies its largest portion, three chapters, and serves as the throughline for the book’s arguments. Geiger explores rural and urban women’s lives during colonization, and how different conditions influenced the live trajectories of women activists from Dar es Salaam, Moshi, and Mwanza, and finally reflects on changes and continuities in nationalist consciousness post-independence. Thus, she elegantly sets out her core claim that the history of Tanzanian nationalism can best be understood not by studying a few select men but in the collective work of thousands of women. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Geiger, Susan. “Specificities: Citizens and Subjects Engendering and Gendering African Nationalism: Rethinking the Case of Tanganyika (Tanzania).” Social Identities 5, no. 3 (September 1999): 331–43. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504639951518.

Geiger builds on her previous extensive work on women’s roles and influence in TANU and Tanganyikan nationalism to explore shortcomings in Mahmood Mamdani’s argument that ‘bifurcated despotism’ is the most important inheritance of colonialism and obstacle towards democracy in Africa. In reference to her work, she argues that Mamdani’s study is not wrong but oversimplified and incomplete when it comes to Tanganyikan/Tanzanian history. The standard view of increasingly authoritarian rule by Nyerere through TANU/CCM ignores important legacies of women’s activism on national identity and the many ways in which they continue to resist, subvert, avoid, and negotiate the modes of engagement with the state. Annotated by Franziska Köstler.

Hodgson, Dorothy L. “Pastoralism, Patriarchy and History: Changing Gender Relations Among Maasai in Tanganyika, 1890–1940.” The Journal of African History 40, no. 1 (March 1999): 41–65. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0021853798007397.

In this piece of research Dorothy L. Hodgson traces the emergence and configuration of patriarchal gender relations among the Maasai, a pastoralist group, in Tanzania. She employs an ethnohistorical which in her broader scholarship incorporates interview and field data, in this paper, she focuses however on British colonial archives noting the limited insights into Maasai agency. This examination reveals the recent origin and historical contingency of the observable deeply patriarchal relationships in the group which in other works are often taken to be a constant, resulting from the nature of pastoralist ideology or practices. As she demonstrates this gender inequality is not inherent but can be traced back to specific patterns of interaction with the forming colonial state such as the introduction of new bases of political power and new property relationships. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Hughes, Lotte. “Alternative Rites of Passage: Faith, Rights, and Performance in FGM/C Abandonment Campaigns in Kenya.” African Studies 77, no. 2 (April 3, 2018): 274–92. https://doi.org/10.1080/00020184.2018.1452860. 

This article analyses and evaluates a new way to reduce female genital mutilation: alternative rites of passage. It introduces its ways of conducting potential variations, and ethical debates related. It is based on fieldwork in Maasai and Pokot communities in Narok, Kajiado Central, and West Pokot counties in 2014 and 2016. It uses structured and semi-structured interviews, informal conversations, focuses group discussions, and participant observation of events. This blog refers to this paper to look for new potential ways to eliminate female circumcision with less cultural harm. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Jennings, Michael. “‘A Very Real War’: Popular Participation in Development in Tanzania During the 1950s & 1960s.” International Journal of African Historical Studies 40, no. 1 (2007): 71–95.

Michael Jennings analyses the discourse surrounding development from the late colonial era in the 1950s to newly independent Tanzania in the 1960s. Building on key speeches and declarations as well as data on development policies, policy-making channels, funding, and realised activities, he traces how particular meanings of development and self-help discourse became essential to the Tanzanian nation-state and its citizens’ national identities. He argues that this period demonstrates a case of highly successful nation-building in a post-colonial state, solid enough to withstand the political and economic crises as the difference between development rhetoric and reality became ever more apparent and a tool for authoritarianism in the following decade. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Lal, Priya. “Self-Reliance And The State: The Multiple Meanings Of Development in Early Post-Colonial Tanzania.” Africa: Journal of the International African Institute 82, no. 2 (May 2012): 212–34. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0001972012000022.

In this book Priya Lal writes a nuanced and rich history of Tanzania’s socialist experiment in the ujamaa initiative from 1967 to 1975 based on both archival records from Tanzania, the UK and the US and oral interviews centring around the specific region of Mtwara. She sets out to document the indeterminacy, inconsistencies, and tensions of the initiative, interested in the ways in which diverse actors imagined ‘ujamaa’ and how the eventual policies were contested and shaped on the ground. Thus, Lal explores a wide array of themes such as the gendered discourse and impact of ujamaa, its connections to sovereignty and border defence, the situatedness of individual villages in a wider Cold Ward international landscape and how the ujamaa years are remembered decades after their end and a following period of structural adjustment. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Leye, Els, Nina Van Eekert, Simukai Shamu, Tammary Esho, Hazel Barrett, and ANSER. “Debating Medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C): Learning from (Policy) Experiences across Countries.” Reproductive Health 16, no. 1 (November 1, 2019): 158. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-019-0817-3. 

This article discusses four ethical debates about the medicalization of female genital mutilation. It shows the status quo of female circumcision by addressing four case studies in Egypt, Indonesia, Kenya, and the UK. It adds knowledge about what changes can be done to reduce female circumcision and potential obstacles. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Mbilinyi, Marjorie J. “The ‘New Woman’ and Traditional Norms in Tanzania.” The Journal of Modern African Studies 10, no. 1 (May 1972): 57–72. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022278X00022096.

In this paper Marjorie J. Mbilinyi, a U.S. American by birth and later Tanzanian by choice feminist activist and researcher at the University of Dar es Salaam, explores the status of rural Tanzanian women. Adopting a socialist perspective, she bases her reflections on women’s role in the economic production process and analyses changes due to the modernisation of the subsistence agriculture economy. She underlines the complexity and heterogeneity of women’s roles in the multiple traditional societies of Tanzania that did not see her as subservient in all spheres of life. Hence, modernisation efforts have had highly ambiguous consequences eroding economic, community and ritual factors protecting women’s interests while leaving entrenched patriarchal norms, that are reflected in legal norms, untouched. She appeals for an industrialisation process that breaks capitalist patterns, including the ‘industrialization’ of women’s work, so that women may fully participate in the fight against under development. Annotated by Franziska Köstler.

Mosha, Aggripina, and Miranda Johnson. Promoting Women’s Access to Politics and Decision-Making: The Role of TGNP and Other Advocay Groups in the 2000 General Elections. Dar es Salaam: Tanzania’s Gender Networking Programme (TGNP), 2004.

This book by Tanzania’s Gender Networking Programme (TGNP) explores its joint efforts with the Feminist Activism Coalition to promote gender and class equality in decision-making structures. Of particular concern to the authors are initiatives taken since 1995 culminating in the 2000 national elections. It also provides detailed information on the participation of women and men in politics from pre-independence to 2004, including quantitative data on women’s historical representation in elections and seats in national parliament enriched with TGNP’s archival material on its strategies and activities including photographs. Exploring multi-faceted barriers to women’s access to decision-making, the book seeks to reflect on lessons learned for NGOs working towards gender equality. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Mwangi, Evan. “The Incomplete Rebellion: Mau Mau Movement in Twenty-First-Century Kenyan Popular Culture.” Africa today 57, no. 2 (2010): 86–113.

This article analyses the trauma of the Mau Mau rebellion and colonial history in Kenya, and how people memorize the past. It uses photos, local songs, and literature to illustrate the collective memory of the Kikuyu people. This blog examines the primary sources, majorly the songs, to see whether there is recognition of women's resistance in the Mau Mau rebellion. The sources show that the historical records were trapped in a narrow patriarchal mindset without fully presenting the roles of females at that time. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Oloo, Habil, Monica Wanjiru, and Katy Newell-Jones. “Female Genital Mutilation Practices in Kenya: The Role of Alternative Rites of Passage. A Case Study of Kisii and Kuria Districts.” Population Council, 2011. https://doi.org/10.31899/rh2.1075. 

This report demonstrates the current situation of female genital mutilation practices in Kenya and the progress in promoting alternative rites of passage. It was carried out by Population Council in Kenya in partnership with Feed the Minds in the UK, the Education Centre for the Advancement of Women, Kenya and Reach Women and Youths Development Organization. It conducted two case studies in Kuria and Kissi in Kenya to investigate how the alternative rites of passage could be facilitated in regions with different societal contexts. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Peeples, Alexander. “Women’s Works: The Evolution of Tanzanian Women’s Movements from Late Colonialism to Post-Structural Adjustment.” Global Africana Review 3 (2019): 21–31.

In this article Alexander Peeples traces the evolution of the Tanzanian women’s movement from the Independence Era to Post-Structural Adjustment times. Adopting a decolonial approach, his focus is not simply on ‘letting the subaltern speak’, but particularly on the non-elite women in Tanzania. He first records the dominance of non-elite women in the independence movement and shows their significant impact on Tanzanian political elites and policy post-independence. The ujamaa-era ushered in uncomfortable tensions and decline for the women’s movement which however reached its low point as a result of structural adjustment. Thus, he seeks highlights the limits of liberal institutionalism and NGO-ification for advancing women’s rights compared to political mass movement grounded in poor women’s experiences and actions, foregrounding Tanzania’s history as an extraordinary case study. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Presley, Cora Ann. “The Mau Mau Rebellion, Kikuyu Women, and Social Change.” Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue Canadienne Des Études Africaines 22, no. 3 (1988): 502–27. https://doi.org/10.2307/485952. 

This article provides an important analysis of the development of nationalist sentiment and activity among women since the 1920s in Kenya. It uses interviews with former women nationalists in Kenya in 1978 and presents the major women's network: Wambui Wagarama, Nduta wa Kore, Phillis Wanjiko wa Mimi, Priscilla Wambaki, and Mary Wanjiko. The blog refers to this paper in terms of colonial unfair policies on women and their reactions. The series of the event shows that the defiance of the ban on circumcision was not a sole event. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Santoru, Marina E. “The Colonial Idea of Women and Direct Intervention: The Mau Mau Case.” African Affairs 95, no. 379 (1996): 253–67.

This article examines how colonialism transformed the role of women in Kenya, from traditional unpolitical figures to increasing participation in politics. It points out that day-to-day colonial administrative practices had long accumulated Kenyan women's resistance. It relies on primary sources, such as memorandums and governmental monthly reports from the 1950s from Kenyan National Archives. It provides information on a series of colonial policies and women's resistance other than the defiance of the ban on circumcision. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Saul, John S. “Tanzania Fifty Years on (1961–2011): Rethinking Ujamaa, Nyerere and Socialism in Africa.” Review of African Political Economy 39, no. 131 (March 1, 2012): 117–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/03056244.2012.662386.

John S. Saul takes the occasion of 50 years of Tanzanian independence to reflect upon ujamaa villagization, African socialism and first President Nyerere as the key initiatives and actors marking these decades. He presents the article as celebratory observations from a symposium on these topics, looking back upon his own emotional memories of doing research in Dar es Salaam in the 1960s and 1970s which he characterizes as an exciting if ultimately sobering period as democratic aspirations gave way to an authoritarian reality. Yet, he admonished that the failings of African socialism in Tanzania have resulted in an undue disregard for the aspirations as a whole. Instead, he emphasizes the continued relevancy of finding ways to truly avoid neo-colonialism and the need to continue challenging global capitalist logics and local hierarchies in an efforts to learn from the failed promise of the ujamaa period. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Shell-Duncan, Bettina. “The Medicalization of Female ‘Circumcision’: Harm Reduction or Promotion of a Dangerous Practice?” Social Science & Medicine 52, no. 7 (April 1, 2001): 1013–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00208-2. 

This article examines the debate on whether the medicalization of female circumcision is still a violation of women's basic right to health. It proposes the dilemma between protecting women's health at the expense of legitimating a destructive practice. It takes the angle of medicine and science to investigate female circumcision and potential ways to reduce its harm to women's bodies. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Shell-Duncan, Bettina, and Ylva Hernlund. Female “Circumcision” in Africa: Culture, Controversy, and Change. Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2000.

The book investigates female circumcision as a cultural pattern by showing its significance across regions and forces for continuing it and obstacles to the changes. it raises the question of whether female circumcision is a maladaptive cultural pattern. It examines case studies in Sudan (female circumcision and demography), Nigeria (among the Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria and medicalization debate in Nigeria), Kenya (Ngaitana), Southern Chad, and Mali (Numu women and their campaign against excision). The book contributes to understandings of the cultural significance of female circumcision. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Thomas, Lynn M. “‘ Ngaitana (I Will Circumcise Myself)’: The Gender and Generational Politics of the 1956 Ban on Clitoridectomy in Meru, Kenya.” Gender & History 8, no. 3 (November 1996): 338–63. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0424.1996.tb00062.x. 

This paper investigates the history of how Kenyan girls, mostly Kikuyu, reacted to the ban on female circumcision in the Meru region by the British: they circumcise themselves. The unexpected self-harm of girls reflects firstly the fact that female circumcision has been deeply connected with cultural continuity and ethnical identity. And how this connection could be more complicated when nationalism is involved. The research uses interviews, letters, government reports, meeting records, and notes. This paper provides insights on how the patriarchy system is embedded in women's resistance and the significance of political and patriarchal power to shape women's/people's behaviors (by doing something harmful to themselves). Annotated by Youqing Lin.

UNICEF. “Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting: A Global Concern.” UNICEF DATA, February 3, 2016. https://data.unicef.org/resources/female-genital-mutilationcutting-global-concern/. 

This is the data website of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. It provides a brochure with data on practicing female genital mutilation around the world: its total number, distribution, and changes. The data is based on more than 90 nationally representative surveys. It offers basic information on female circumcision in the contemporary world and the significance for us to discuss it and keep making efforts to reduce it. Annotated by Youqing Lin.

Essof, Shereen. "She-murenga: challenges, opportunities and setbacks of the women's movement in Zimbabwe." Feminist Africa 4 (2005): 29-45.

Shereen highlights the formation of issue-driven coalitions, and the challenges faced during the constitutional reform process, which aimed to enshrine gender disparities as well as entrench the rights of women. The article emphasizes the power of joint coordinating and the ongoing struggle for gender equality in Zimbabwe. Shereen contends that during the mid- to the late-1990s, Zimbabwean women's organizations redefined traditional strategies for engaging the state and civil society action. Instead, theirs was a strategy that saw the organizational base, its countryside networks and concerned individuals coming together in various issue-driven arrangements and strategic coalitions, forming, disbanding, and reforming again as needed. 

Zimbabwean organizations for women redesigned the old techniques for engaging both government and community groups. Rather, their method involved the organizational centre, its country-side networks, and involved individuals banding together in various problem focused alignments and alliances, which formed, disbanded, and reformed as needed. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Kennedy, Nyavaya. "Zimbabwe's rugged artisanal and small-scale mining sector." (2022). https://www.rosalux.co.za/publications/zimbabwes-rugged-artisanal-small-scale-mining-sector. 

Nyavaya notes high unemployment rates and successive droughts have destroyed the Mazowe region of Zimbabwe's economy. This forced, in the 2000s, the predominantly youthful populations in and near mineral-rich areas like Mazowe Mine (Mashonaland Central) and Kenzamba Mashonaland West) to resort to a more lucrative alternative, artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). He emphasized the regulation and formalization of the AMS as it was a viable alternative in an economically tumultuous state which is now short of formal alternative sources of livelihoods. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Mawowa, Showers. "Political economy of crisis, mining and accumulation in Zimbabwe: Evidence from the Chegutu Mhondoro area", PhD dissertation, University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2013. 

Mawowa’s work examines the artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASM) in the Chegutu Mhondoro area in Zimbabwe. He criticized the elite, particularly the ruling party ZANU PF members, for wealth acquisition and the retention of political authority through unscrupulous and sometimes violent means. He argued that, despite promoting empowerment, they victimized ASM workers, and the regulations were inconsistently administered. The politicians from the ruling class often used coercion to manipulate and exploit artisanal miners. This included forcing miners to sell their gold at lower prices or through intermediaries who were connected to the top politicians. Mawowa emphasizes that these dynamics are not unique to illegal gold panning but are also evident in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and platinum mining, reflecting broader systemic issues within Zimbabwe's political economy. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Parpart, Jane L. "Gender, Patriarchy, and Development in Africa: The Zimbabwe Case." https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198290230.003.0007.

The article investigates the economic developments in Zimbabwe following its declaration of independence in 1980. Papart investigates the influence of patriarchal views on women's employment and opportunities for education. She argues that patriarchal structures impede women's economic and political potential. Although the government designed bylaws as well as organizations devised to enhance the status of women. Those laws still face challenges in the face of contend with profoundly embedded beliefs in patriarchy. She agrees with most scholars who state that patriarchal mindsets intensified during the colonial period. She concluded that, in Zimbabwean culture and discourse, male dominance and female submission is widely accepted in Zimbabwean culture and discourse. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Schmidt, Elizabeth. "Farmers, hunters, and gold-washers: a re-evaluation of women's roles in precolonial and colonial Zimbabwe." African Economic History: 45-80.

Schmidt explores the economic shifts that have occurred in Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980. She emphasized women’s roles in precolonial history as the producers of food through agricultural activities as well as participants in mining. She blames colonialism for disorganizing the traditional gender roles that once gave women the autonomy to participate in all spheres of life in the past. Schmidt further noted that, patriarchal structures that were imposed by the colonizers continued to restrict women's opportunities in economic and political spheres even in the post-independence era.  She concluded that new colonial policies negatively impacted women’s employment and educational opportunities. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Seidman, Gay W. "Women in Zimbabwe: Post-independence Struggles." Feminist Studies 10, no. 3 (1984): 419-440.

Seidman critiques gender inequality in the Zimbabwean nationalist discourse. She laments that women's concerns have been marginalized in government policymaking through the creation of a rather weak ministry for women's affairs. The ministry's structural problems, a low budget, staffing problems, and an unavoidable reliance on the rest of the government for support have limited its ability to effectively challenge gender inequalities. Even if the government wanted to alter the sexual division of labor, it might be unable to do so. Similarly, ZANU, a mass-based nationalist coalition, has no mechanisms or the will to discuss or change existing social relations. So, it is not surprising that self-proclaimed feminists in government have backed down from fights. It is not surprising that there are several conflicting views of women's place, with many still insisting that the place of the woman is in and around the house. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Shaba, Jabulani, and Sandra Swart. “The occult goes underground: Rumour, rituals, and the everyday entrepreneurship of women in artisanal gold mining in Mazowe, Zimbabwe, c. 2000–2021.” The Extractive Industries and Society 17 (2024): 101409. 

Shaba and Swart argue that women mining in Mazowe faced some serious segregation in the male-dominated artisanal gold mining sector. For them to economically survive in this male terrain, some profited on traditional tales with a business vision. They gave miners advice on how to traverse the gold mining shafts. Even if women around Mazowe were forbidden from going underground in the mines due to concerns about polluting the mines' sanctity, their 'occult spiritual presence' accompanied and led the artisanal miners on their search for mineral fortune. The article highlights the challenges women faced and the efforts they made to find their place in the artisanal gold mining sector. Annotated by Tilda Nkomo.

Accossatto, Romina. ‘El Lugar de Las Mujeres En Los Partidos Políticos de América Latina: El Caso de Ecuador’. Revista CIDOB d’Afers Internacionals 127 (April 2021): 201–28. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.24241/rcai.2021.127.1.201.

In this study, Accossatto develops the “Index on Gender Parity in Political Parties” (IGP) to compare how political parties in Ecuador influence women’s political participation and representation. The author focuses on the period of 2017-2019 and analyzes the five parties with the highest parliamentary participation in the National Assembly. Accossatto builds the IGP based on a leading 2010 study by Garzón de la Roza et al., that studies 94 political parties in Latin America and sets various dimensions to analyze their structure and how it affects women.  The index proposed by Accossatto follows four axes: discursive-statutory, organizational, electoral, and legislative-attitudinal. The author concludes by stating that Ecuadorian political parties continue to see gender equality from a superficial level evident in the lack of substantive and meaningful actions taken by the five studied parties to promote gender parity. Annotated by Raquel Serrana. 

Bascopé, Joaquín. “Antes de la Ley. Salvajismo y comercio sexual en Tierra del Fuego y Patagonia Austral, 1884-1920”. In Capitalismo y pornología. La producción de los cuerpos sexuados. Pavez, J. & Kraushaar, L. (ed.). Antofagasta: Universidad Católica del Norte, 2011.

In this article, Joaquim Bascopé mobilizes a Marxist, decolonial and feminist approach to analyze the system of settler colonialism based on the establishment of large sheep cattle farms in Tierra del Fuego. Using Marx's example from his book ‘The Capital’, the author explores the concept of "original accumulation" where peasants were forcibly transformed into proletarians through the brutal depopulation of the Scottish countryside by sheep colonization. Bascopé draws parallels to the extermination of the indigenous population in Tierra del Fuego, highlighting how this act of expropriation did not result in their proletarianization but rather their complete extermination. Furthermore, Bascopé delves into the varied impacts of colonial violence on indigenous communities, emphasizing that it affected different segments of their social body in distinct ways. He specifically examines the differential treatment of indigenous women, children, and men by settlers, revealing how patriarchy was underlying colonial violence. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Brand, Donald D. “The Peoples and Languages of Chile.” New Mexico Anthropologist 5, no. 3 (Jul-Sept 1941): 72–93. 

In this 1941 anthropology article, a detailed account is given of the various indigenous groups residing within the geographical boundaries of the Chilean nation-state. The author meticulously details each indigenous community's social, religious, dietary, and organizational customs. However, the article goes beyond mere description and delves into the historical background of settlements in Chile, tracing the presence of both Incan and European settlers. Additionally, the article sheds light on the distribution of settlers, the "mestizos" (individuals of mixed settler and indigenous heritage), and the diverse indigenous peoples themselves. The information is organized geographically, providing an overview of the overall population including a breakdown of the North, Central, and South regions. This article is a valuable resource for understanding the indigenous populations and their way of life during the 20th century. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Bustamante, Javiera. “Approaches to the history and reconstruction of memories of indigenous women in Chile’s southern zone.” Cultura-Hombre-Sociedad 29 [online]. no. 2, (December 2019): 188-217. ISSN 0716-1557.  http://dx.doi.org/10.7770/0719-2789.2019.cuhso.04.a07. 

In this article the author Javiera Bustamante presents the findings of a research project titled "Feminine Traces at the South of the World: Contributions for the memory and history of Selk’nam, Aonikenk, Yamana and Kawesqar women." This project was conducted in Patagonia, Chile's southern zone, from 2014 to 2016. In this study, local and regional archives, encompassing both written documents and visual materials were analyzed by researchers through a gendered lens. This approach aimed to enable a deeper understanding of the historical experiences and circumstances of indigenous women, as well as their socio-cultural context in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. The archives analyzed in this study serve a descriptive function, enabling the author to develop a comprehensive feminist analysis of indigenous women’s ways of life and the oppression and violence they endured under settler colonialism. Indeed, in this article, the abduction, rape, forced assimilation, and forced conversions of southern indigenous women are described and analyzed in depth. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Cerda, Ricardo Escobar, Secretario Corte de Apelaciones de Valparaíso, Sumario sobre vejámenes inferidos a indíjenas de Tierra del Fuego, Punta Arenas, Legajo 75, Archivo Judicial de Magallanes, Expediente No 112, (2 December 1895).

In 1895, the Clerk of the Court of Appeals of Valparaíso compiled a judicial “summary of the abuse inflicted on indigenous people of Tierra del Fuego”. The Guarantee Court of the area attributed these abuses to beliefs in the indigenous people's “minor stage of development” and “a defense of private property”. It expressed hope that conducting an investigation would help reduce harassment and genocidal practices. The summary consists of 158 testimonies documenting the abuses suffered by the Selk'nam and other indigenous groups. During the proceedings, the court excluded the testimonies of indigenous people, claiming a lack of interpreters. As a result, the file only includes statements from workers in Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego. Despite the recorded mistreatment and rewards offered for capturing or killing indigenous individuals, the court dismissed the accusations due to “the absence of direct witnesses or material evidence”. In 2012, the museum and the University of Magallanes collaborated with the Judiciary to undertake a project aimed at preserving historical and legal memory. To ensure wider accessibility to this valuable primary source, the museum acquired a duplicate of the original document kept by the National Archive of Chile and made it available in their digital library. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Fierman, Julia Beth. “‘We Are Peronists, We Are Organic’: Discipline, Authority, and Loyalty in Argentine Populism.” Social Sciences 10, no. 9 (August 30, 2021): 326. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci10090326.

This article analyzes the political foundations of Peronism as an ideology. Although, it is a well-known that Peronism was a populist regime, Julia Beth Fierman argues that it promoted a particular brand of authoritarianism. More precisely, by relying on ethnographic fieldwork, the author argues that Peronism was built around “Organicity” or Organicidad, an ideology that prioritized obedience, discipline, and loyalty. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Franceschet, Susan, Jennifer M. Piscopo, and Gwynn Thomas. ‘Supermadres, Maternal Legacies and Women’s Political Participation in Contemporary Latin America’. Journal of Latin American Studies 48, no. 1 (2016): 1–32.

This paper interrogates how maternalism shape women’s political participation in Latin America in the contemporary era. Following a review of public opinion data, the conduction of elite interviews, and an analysis of the media, the authors conceptualize four frames used by elite-women in politics to justify their political participation: the traditional supermadre, the technocratic caretaker, the macho minimiser, and the difference denier. Using this typology, the authors conclude that structural constrains and barriers, such as cultural expectations and the gendered division of labour (i.e., caretaking roles) continue to limit women politicians’ ability to advance on their political careers despite the implementation of equality measures. The authors further conclude that motherhood, despite being one of the main justifiers for women to join politics in certain contexts across the region, is now not the principal reason why women decide to participate in such activities. Annotated by Raquel Serrana. 

Fridman, Viviana. “Les Transformations de l’Icône d’Eva Perón dans l’imaginaire politique Argentin.” Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies 35, no. 70 (2010): 197–219.

This journal article studies the role that Eva Peron’s image played in Argentina. The author argues that Eva became a recognizable and ubiquitous in Argentine national imaginary despite eliciting different feelings depending on the context. Because of this, the author believes that Eva has shaped the ways in which future first ladies and President Cristina Elisabet Fernández de Kirchner presented themselves in Argentina.  Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Gardini, Walter. “Restoring the Honour of an Indian Tribe - Rescate de Una Tribu.” Anthropos 79, no. 4/6 (1984): 645–47. 

In this 1984 article, Walter Gardini provides an overview and analysis of the extensive ethnographic research conducted by Martin Gusinde, an Austrian anthropologist, throughout the 20th century. Gusinde embarked on four separate journeys to Tierra del Fuego, where he meticulously studied the indigenous peoples, their way of life, and their intricate social dynamics including the relations that the Selk’nams, Yamanas, and Halakwulup entertained with each other. This article serves as a valuable summary of Gusinde's work, which spans over 4000 pages; Gusinde’s work is particularly significant as it offers one of the few authentic accounts and descriptions of the devastating extermination of the Selk'nam indigenous people, thus serving as undeniable evidence of the genocide that took place. His detailed description of the Selk’nam’s economy, customs, and intellectual life, is one of the only accounts made of their ways of life before they were exterminated. In his article, Gardini commends Gusinde's scientific methodology, highlighting his empathetic approach towards the indigenous people he lived with and his commitment to avoiding any biases or manipulation of sources, resulting in a more reliable account than other available descriptions. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Gutiérrez, Natividad, ed. Women, ethnicity, and nationalisms in Latin America. Hampshire: Ashgate, 2007.

This book claims to be the first to explore the relationship between gender and nationalism in the context of Latin America. It features a compilation of contributions from Latin American scholars including case studies from Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Mexico. The book begins by providing an overview of four key aspects of the relationship between gender and nationalism: women's role in nation-building and their exclusion by the state and its institutions, the involvement of women in contemporary ethnic and nationalist movements, the portrayal of the female body in national myths and traditions, and the contributions of women to the intellectual and artistic culture of the nation. I mostly used the 9th chapter for my analysis, entitled “Indigenous Women, Transnationality and Re/narrativized Social Memory”. This chapter analyses Latin American indigenous women’s militancy, describing various forms of indigenous feminisms and how indigenous women mobilized primary historical sources to transform and confront hegemonic colonial historical narratives. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Harambour-Ross, Alberto. Soberanías Fronterizas. Esados y Capital en la Colonización de Patagonia (Argentina y Chile, 1830-1922). Valdivia : Ediciones UACh, Colección Ausral Universitaria de Ciencias Sociales, Artes y Humanidades, 2019. 

This 300-page Book, by Harambour- Ross describes in extensive detail the colonization of the southernmost parts of the South American continent known as Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Inscribing the occupation of Patagonia in the larger context of British global expansion, the book intends to propose a novel interpretation of the colonization of these territories, distancing itself from the usual European and American colonial imaginaries. Drawing on an extensive array of historical sources Soberanías Fronterizas lists actors and places by names including plenty of descriptions which are useful if you need to understand the details of the events that took place. This book describes from beginning to end the post-independence colonial process, including the early roaming of European merchants, the division of the territory between Chile and Argentina, the repartition of the land to private actors by the states, the creation of sheep cattle farms, the process that led to the starvation and illness of indigenous populations and the violence that took place against them. It also provides an interesting analysis of the various forms of colonialism, categorized as penal colonization, judicial and administrative colonization, and racial colonization. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Hedges, Jill. Evita. 1st ed. New-York; London: I. B. Tauris, 2017.

Dr. Jill Hedges is the author of this biography, which is dedicated to the life of Eva Peron from her birth in 1919 until she died in 1952. Dr.  Hedges draws on several sources, including archives, letters, reports, and oral history, with various people in Argentina who knew or were related to Mrs. Peron. She also uses governmental documents from the British Embassy to the Foreign Office and the US Department of State. The book analyzes the influence of Eva in Argentina and within the Peronist Party. It also analyzes the prominent supporters of Peronism, notably working-class men and women. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

James, Daniel. Doña María′s Story: Life History, Memory, and Political Identity. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press, 2000.

Historian Daniel James recounts the life of Doña María Roldán, an Argentine woman who worked in the meatpacking industry and advocated for the rights of workers in her community. She was known to be a devout Peronist as she endorsed President Juan Peron and his wife Eva. In the book, James relies on oral history to sketch as accurately as possible a representation of Doña María’s story while acknowledging the methodological limit of oral history. Specifically, he assesses his motives as a historian and his subject’s attempt to make sense of her past while disclosing it publicly. The book also situates the life of Doña Maríaa within a gender and local framing while still fitting it with the history of Argentina as a nation. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Lewis, Paul H. “Was Perón a Fascist? An Inquiry into the Nature of Fascism.” The Journal of Politics 42, no. 1 (February 1980): 242–56. https://doi.org/10.2307/2130025.

The author of this journal article inquires whether regime of Juan Peron was built on fascism. By defining fascism within its historical and sociological context, Paul H. Lewis argues that despite its short rule, Peron was a dictator, whose ruling style, was similar to Mussolini. Moreover, the reliance on a unique political party, and its use of coercion against the opposition reifies Peronism as a fascist regime. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Lluch, Andrea, and Norma Silvana Lanciotti. “The Rise and Transformation of Big Business in Argentina (1913–1971).” Revista de Historia Económica / Journal of Iberian and Latin American Economic History 42, no. 1 (March 2024): 7–32. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0212610923000101.

This journal article analyzes the growth of industrialization in Argentina from 1913 until 1971. The authors rely on qualitative and quantitative analysis of 200 domestic and foreign companies based on their respective capital. The article shows that foreign companies made up the core of the industrial sector in Argentina during the period defined by the researchers. They argue that the Argentinian economy was first defined by exports before evolving into a more diversified economy after World War I. Starting at the end of World War II, the administration encouraged industrialization through its policies until the beginning of the 70s.Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Marchante, Alonso and José Luis. Menendez Rey de la Patagonia. Santiago: Catalonia, 2014.

By compiling a diverse range of unpublished accounts, records, and documents, this book seeks to offer a reviewed perspective on the colonization of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. It aims to challenge the limited narrative presented in national histories and instead highlights the marginalized groups who were historically silenced - indigenous people, day laborers, and emigrants. The focus of this book is the historical character of José Menéndez, the owner of two expansive cattle ranches encompassing over 200,000 hectares within the heart of the Selk'nam indigenous people territory, who became renowned for his ruthless treatment of the indigenous population and his openly genocidal positions. This book sheds light on the unlawful methods employed by the European settler to acquire their vast estates, as well as the violent and genocidal actions that were perpetrated under their orders. The books goes into the details of how a small group of influential landowners, led by José Menéndez, seized hundreds of thousands of hectares of public land for the sole purpose of sheep production in a reckless pursuit of profit that resulted in the extermination of the Selk’nam and condemned large portions of this remote region to years of economic and social underdevelopment. Annotated by Amalia Muñoz Rojas. 

Milanesio, Natalia. “A Man Like You: Juan Domingo Perón and the Politics of Attraction in Mid‐Twentieth Century Argentina.” Gender & History 26, no. 1 (April 2014): 84–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0424.12053. 

This article discusses the role of Argentine President Juan Peron as the founder of the Peronist Party and the face of Peronism as a populist movement. By drawing on photographs, caricatures, comics, media, and discourse analysis, the author argues that masculinity, physical strength, and relatability were some of the main tactics of Peronism as a paternalist and populist ideology that relied on the working class’s sentiment for political support. Additionally, the article argues that Eva Peron presented herself as the mother of the workers of the nation in order to encourage Argentine workers to trust Juan as President. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Müller, Markus-Michael. The rise of the penal state in Latin America, Contemporary Justice Review, 15:1 (2012), 57-76, DOI: 10.1080/10282580.2011.590282.

In this essay, drawing from the theoretical and conceptual work of Loïc Wacquant, Michael Muller explores the politics of Latin America’s “penal statecraft.” The author argues that while neoliberalism provides a critical insight into the “criminalisation of urban marginality” and the development of the local prison system, it is important to recognise the salient differences in the Latin American experiment. Muller shows that the prison system in Latin American countries uses more “violent, arbitrary and illegal forms of penalisation” when compared to the “first world nations.” Annotation by Nivedita Joon

Ortiz, Richard, and Vanessa Carrión-Yaguana. ‘“Paridad de Género En Ecuador”: El Impacto de La Reforma Electoral 2020 En La Representación Descriptiva de Las Mujeres En La Asamblea Nacional’. Revista de Ciencia Política (Santiago) 43, no. 1 (April 2023): 93–114. https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-090x2023005000105.

In this article, the authors explore the impact of the 2020 Electoral Reform in Ecuador by looking at descriptive representation of women in the National Assembly in the 2021 elections. The authors then proceed to compare these results with those from the 2017 elections to identify changes in percentage of women’s participation in the Assembly. The electoral reform negatively affected the presence of women in the Parliament. The changes of methods for seat allocation, from D’Hondt method to Webster method, reduced the seats that could have gone to women, thus affecting the overall percentage of women in the Assembly. This negative impact was counterbalanced with the significant quota of women leading the lists for the legislative elections. The authors conclude by emphasizing that legal reforms intended to achieve parity are not enough if other components of the electoral system, such as seat allocation, are not considered. Annotated by Raquel Serrana. 

Patroni, Viviana. “A Discourse of Love and Hate: Eva Perón and the Labour Movement (1940s–1950s).” Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies 24, no. 48 (January 1999): 153–75. https://doi.org/10.1080/08263663.1999.10816781. 

This article discusses the perceptions of Eva Peron within the Labour Movement and elitist circles. The article presents Peronism as a political ideology that was fundamental in transforming labor unions to establish the Peronist Party and its leaders as legitimate. Moreover, Patroni argues that the First Lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, was a link between Juan and working-class communities. Patroni based her analysis on Eva’s speeches, upbringing, and past as a working-class woman to posit that although Eva was second to Juan as a leader, she remained a key political actor within the Peronist Party. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Pazmiño, Martillo, Ítalo Omar, Jean Steve Carrera López, and Washington Hidalgo Hidalgo. ‘Teorías, Modelos y Estrategias de Desarrollo En Ecuador. Períodos Presidenciales: Sixto Duran, Abdala Bucarán, Fabian Alarcón, Rosalía Arteaga’. E-IDEA Journal of Business Sciences, 2022, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.53734/eidea.vol4.id263.

In this article, the authors provide a governmental analysis of the presidential landscape of Ecuador in the period of 1992 to 1998. Following a bibliographic framework, the authors explored sources, such as news and journal articles, editorial publications, and reports published from 1996 to early 2000s to recount the governmental policies implemented in the period of study. Pazmino et al., conclude that the public administration in the period of study was marked by a series of measures taken to boost the economy, primarily through liberal adjustment policies and cuts on public spending. However, the measures taken, cases of corruption and nepotism, and the continuous improvement of social welfare, led to mass mobilizations in the country and flows of emigration of Ecuadorian seeking a better financial outcome in other countries. Annotated by Raquel Serrana. 

Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el and Desarrollo (PNUD). ‘Índice de Participación Política de las Mujeres de Pueblos y Nacionalidades Indígenas, Afroecuatorianas y Montubias de Ecuador 2020-2023: Reporte Ejecutivo’. Ecuador: Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo, 2023. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/zskgke326/files/2023-08/resumen_participacion_politica_impresion_6.pdf.

This report published by the United Nations Development Program shares the results of a study on the political participation of Indigenous, Afrodescendant, and Montubian Ecuadorian women focusing on the period of 2020 to 2023. Following field research, the authors conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis of the data concluding that the 2020 electoral reforms are having positive impacts on women’s political participation and offered action items to further ensure such positive trend. Among the recommendations the report highlights certain areas that need to be addressed, such as the structural discrimination based on gender and race, the lack of access to financial resources to boost their campaign, the lack of trust that women have on the judicial system when they present a case of discrimination, and the fear of being publicly exposed and the potential risk this might represent to them.  Annotated by Raquel Serrana. 

Young, Grace J., Wenya Linda Bi, Timothy R. Smith, Ryan Brewster, William B. Gormley, Ian F. Dunn, Edward R. Laws, and Daniel E. Nijensohn. “Evita’s Lobotomy.” Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 22, no. 12 (December 2015): 1883–88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jocn.2015.07.005. 

This article covers the declining health of Eva Peron and the impact it had on politics in Argentina. By drawing on archival documents, including medical records, letters, press interviews, and journal entries, the authors focus on the way in which Eva’s illness was portrayed in the public by the Peronist Party. The author argues that Juan Peron and his party hid the details of Eva’s disease to the public to avoid ruining the image of Eva and the Peronist Party. More precisely, they posit that being transparent regarding the stage of her cancer and the impact it had on her personality and demeanor would have discredited Eva, Juan, and the Peronist Party among blue-collar groups in the country. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Zambrano, Aide Peralta. ‘Ley de cuotas y participación política de las mujeres en el Ecuador’. Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos 42 (2005): 376–405.

In this article published in the magazine of the Interamerican Court of Human Rights, the author analyzes the disparity between legal equality and the lived reality experienced by women in the country. While laws may guarantee equal rights, the persistence of machismo within state structures, predominantly led by men, perpetuates gender inequality. Zambrano reviews the electoral reforms made in 1997 to analyze its impacts on the representation of women in Ecuadorian politics after the 2000, 2002, and 2004 elections. While doing so, the author describes some of the obstacles to the implementation of the quota law during the period of study, showing that the inclusion of it in the legal system did not guarantee its materialization and implementation for the electoral process under revision. Annotated by Raquel Serrana. 

Bracewell, Lorna Norman. ‘Beyond Barnard: Liberalism, Antipornography Feminism, and the Sex Wars’. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 42, no. 1 (September 2016): 23–48. https://doi.org/10.1086/686752. 

In this essay, Bracewell looks back to the “feminist sex wars” that began at the 1982 “conference The Scholar and the Feminist IX: Towards a Politics of Sexuality, held at Barnard College.” Bracewell challenges the argument that the sex wars were between “ antipornography feminists versus sex-radical feminists,” rather, she explores the contention between “antipornography feminism and liberalism.” Providing critical insights into the concept and history of “carceral feminism,” Bracewell shows that departing from its roots as a critique of liberalism, in the 1980s and 1990s, “anti-pornography feminism” was understood as a principle belief of liberalism. Annotation by Nivedita Joon.

Gruber, Aya. The Feminist War on Crime: The Unexpected Role of Women’s Liberation in Mass Incarceration, University of California Press, 2020.

In this book, feminist lawyer Aya Gruber looks back to the history of feminist activism in the United States to explore its “punitive impulse” that led to the concept of “carceral feminism.” Using legal historiography of important cases, Gruber shows how the state has failed to protect the female victims of violence through a law and order policy of “mandatory arrests, no-drop prosecutions, forced separation, and incarceration.” Urging feminists to recognise the harm done by the carceral approach to women of colour, Gruber asks feminists to think beyond the criminal justice system and use it as the last resort, instead of the first. Annotation by Nivedita Joon.

Loizeau, Pierre-Marie. “‘First Lady But Second Fiddle’ or the Rise and Rejection of the Political Couple in the White House: 1933-Today.” European Journal of American Studies 10, no. 1 (March 26, 2015). https://doi.org/10.4000/ejas.10525.

This article is a qualitative analysis of the role of the First Lady in American politics by Pierre-Marie Loizeau. It provides an assessment of the presidential couple and the first lady in the nation and the culture, notably in the United States of America. The article draws on secondary sources such as books, newspapers, and magazines to argue that to be seen as legitimate, the president and his spouse must craft an appealing image of themselves to the nation. However, the First Lady holds significantly less political power than her husband and is primarily seen as a symbol. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Paxton-Turner, Ashlee A. “Changing the First Lady’s Mystique: Defining the First Lady’s Legal Role and Upending Gender Norms” 13 (2018).

This article is rooted in legal theory, particularly American legal theory. Paxton-Turner posits that the lack of a general legal definition concerning the role of the First Lady keeps it rooted within gender and patriarchal norms. She does so by analyzing the stance that the three branches of the government, notably the executive, the judiciary, and the legislative, afford to the First Lady in the United States of America. The article also suggests potential guidelines that could replace the gender-heavy role of the first lady in the White House. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Rand, Erin J. Reclaiming Queer: Activist and Academic Rhetorics of Resistance. Tuscaloosa: The University of Alabama Press, 2014. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293116706_Reclaiming_queer_Activist_and_academic_rhetorics_of_resistance.

Rand’s work looks at the reclaiming process and the relationship between queer theory in academia and queer activism on the streets during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The author provided a critical look at the rhetoric of queer activism in the United States, which allows texts and movements to build a theory of rhetorical agency grounded in queerness. Through this analysis, Rand illustrates how queerness itself becomes a source of rhetorical agency, shaping both activist and academic discourses.

Scharrer, Erica, and Kim Bissell. “Overcoming Traditional Boundaries: The Role of Political Activity in Media Coverage of First Ladies.” Women & Politics 21, no. 1 (March 27, 2000): 55–83. https://doi.org/10.1300/J014v21n01_03. 

This article is an analysis of the textual and visual coverage of three American first ladies, notably Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, and Hilary Clinton, in the Washington Post, The New York Times, and Time Magazine. The article argues that in the case of a politically involved first lady, articles published about her tend to be critical and, at times, negative. Thus, the media tends to penalize first ladies who engage in politics. Additionally, first ladies who engage in complex issues like foreign affairs or trade tend to be portrayed in photographs in more stereotypical fashions, namely hosting events or accompanying the President during public gatherings. The authors argue that coverage of the sorts is pushed to balance the rising political influence of the first ladies studied in the article. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

THEMES: FEMINISM, RACE, BODY POLITICS, QUEER THEORY

Bernstein, Elizabeth. ‘Militarized Humanitarianism Meets Carceral Feminism: The Politics of Sex, Rights, and Freedom in Contemporary Antitrafficking Campaigns’. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society 36, no. 1 (September 2010): 45–71. https://doi.org/10.1086/652918.

In this essay, Bernstein explores the strange marriage of “abolitionist feminists and Christian evangelicals” in the struggle against the “traffic in women.” Based on ethnographic evidence with feminist and evangelical antitrafficking movement leaders, Bernstein shows that the marriage is due to not only common “conservative ideals of sexuality” but an increasingly carceral approach to justice and “militarised humanitarianism.” Bernstein identifies two historical shifts for this change – a move away from “redistributive model of justice” towards “incarceration” and the movement of young evangelicals towards “a globally oriented social justice theology.” Annotation by Nivedita Joon.

Brontsema, Robin. “A Queer Revolution: Reconceptualizing the Debate over Linguistic Reclamation.” Colorado Research in Linguistics, June 17, 2004. https://journals.colorado.edu/index.php/cril/article/view/255.

The article investigates the word “queer” and its linguistic reclamation by identifying the three distinct perspectives on how words can be regained by a certain population. The author aims to show the complexity and commonalities of the reclamation of a word. The author adopts a historical view and traces the journey of the words to track the process of reclaiming a term and the embracing acts done by activists. Other terms are also examined by the author by showing the different processes and the change in linguistics; the word queer has a unique meaning and is recognized differently in the revolution against homophobia.  However, a limitation of the work can be seen reflected in the author’s definition of “success” and “failure” of the reclamation, as there is no end to such a process of fighting homophobia. Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Brooks, Peter. “Body Work: Objects of Desire in Modern Narrative” Harvard University Press; Third Printing edition, January 1, 1993.

Brooks argues that “modern narrative” aims to “uncover the body” to reveal a truth embodied on the body, and stories are driven by the motivation of understand the body. The author presents that imagination enables us to develop stories about the body through language. Starting from the classics, Rousseau, to contemporary artists and writers to highlight how writers and artists are fascinated by the body, which is a form that cannot be separated from spirit. Brooks illustrates the paths that and the reason why the female body has become the stage where “the aspirations, anxieties, and contradictions of a whole society” are manifested. Annotated by Yiyao Yang.

Camiscioli, E. Embodiment and the Nation, In Reproducing the French Race. Duke University Press.  2009.

With this chapter Camiscioli introduces the book Reproducing the French Race. In the early twentieth century, the country was in great need for a labour force in the context of post-war reconstruction, which led to migration movements from various countries, European and non-European, to the metropolis. At this moment, concepts of race and race mixing were influenced by economic factors and reproductive considerations. These factors played a significant role in shaping social and cultural understandings of race and its implications in broader societal contexts. Camiscioli develops on the notion of “embodiment”, which she defines as the opposite of the supposed essence of the French race, a “radically inclusive universalism”. She argues that such a universality has never existed neither for women or colonial subjects and aims to demonstrate how social critics utilized racial hierarchies to evaluate the quality and reliability of foreign labour, often linking these assessments to judgments about which groups were deemed suitable for citizenship or assimilation into the national body. She proves the importance of a gendered approach, focused on intimacy and biopolitical considerations of State power over its citizens when studying the creation and reproduction of “the” supposed French race. Annotated by Justine Noëlle Bosset. 

Clarke, Cheryl. "Lesbianism. An Act of Resistance" In Feminism and Sexuality: A Reader, 155-161. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 1996. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781474469517-017.

Clarke discusses lesbianism as a form of political and social resistance against patriarchal and heteronormative systems. She considers this resistance is a way of liberation for all women. She situates lesbian identity within the broader context of feminist movements, arguing that it challenges societal norms and creates alternative spaces of belonging. Additionally, she called on all lesbians to throw away hate and to build solidarity to reach final resistance. Annotated by Liying Zhang.

Craig, M. “The Decline and Fall of the Conk; or, How to Read a Process.” Fashion theory 1, no. 4 (1997): 399–419. https://doi.org/10.2752/136270497779613657.

In this article published in 1997, Craig explores the cultural and social implications of hair straightening, referred to as “getting a process”, or “conk”, among African American men and women. While it is commonly argued in the literature that Black women straightened their hair to conform to mainstream beauty standards, which valued long, straight or wavy hair, the author nevertheless postulates that hair straightening should not be viewed solely as an attempt to emulate white aesthetics. Her analysis provides insights on the gendered meanings of natural and straightened hair, highlighting that some hairstyles, such as the Afro, could signify racial pride for both genders, while simultaneously challenging traditional femininity. She also explores the changing perceptions of a man’s conk over time, as well as the shifts associated with the symbolism of women’s straightened hair.  Annotated by Justine Noëlle Bosset. 

Crenshaw, Kimberle. “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review 43, no. 6 (1991): 1241–99. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229039.

A central paper to the development of “intersectional feminism,” Crenshaw explores her legal practice serving battered women to demonstrate the limits of single axis identity politics. In the paper, Crenshaw argues how the structures of racism and sexism impacts the lives of Black women in the Unites States and the need to see race and gender as intersecting identities. The author then explores the ways in which “race and gender intersect” with one another to shape the “structural, political and representational aspects of violence against women of color.” Annotation by Nivedita Joon.

Dabiri, E. Don’t Touch My Hair. UK: Allen Lane. 2019.

"Don't Touch My Hair" delves into the extensive scope of black hairstyling, exploring its significance from prehistoric times to (afro)futuristic contexts. This book uncovers the complexities linked to black hair, its perception by society, community, and the self; the stigma around it as well as the empowerment that it can foster. It explores various dimensions of black hairstyling and hair making throughout history, from pre-colonial Africa through US slavery to today’s Natural Hair Movement. In these contexts, hair is not only about beauty but also represents a narrative of struggle, community and ingenuity. The book highlights that black hairstyling is more than just hair —it symbolizes both black oppression and liberation. Starting from her own experience as a Nigerian-British woman, Dabiri contributes to the broader conversation on decolonization by shifting the focus away from a Western-centric view of human history and development. She notably points out that hair making in precolonial Africa played a vital role in social cohesion, serving as a means of communication, historical storytelling, and the apprenticeship of younger generations. This role persists in a similar way today, as black people’s hair making practices still carry strong histories and meanings, preserving their cultural significance despite oppression. Annotated by Justine Noëlle Bosset. 

Davis-Bundrage, M., Medvedev, K., and Hunt-Hurst, P. ‘Impact of Black Women’s Hair Politics on Bodily Health: A Historical Essay’. In Feminist Interrogations of Women’s Head Hair. Routledge. 2018.

This chapter contends that racism has shaped black hair care, hairstyling methods, products development and ultimately Afro-American women’s health. This text outlines the shift from African hair as a symbol of social status to European colonialism’s negative categorization of Black beauty, leading to a lower self-esteem among Black communities, and women especially. It examines the use of damaging chemical straighteners and the politicization of natural and culturally styled hair, throughout the 1960s – where the Afro was iconic of the Black Power Movement –, the braided styles and versatility of the 1980s and 1990s and concludes with the 2000s and the rise of the eco-conscious Natural Hair Movement. In all these different contexts, hair is promoted as a way to assert and reclaim Black identities. Annotated by Justine Noëlle Bosset. 

Fratkin, Elliot. “Pastoralism: Governance and Development Issues.” Annual Review of Anthropology 26, no. 1 (October 1997): 235–61. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.anthro.26.1.235.

Examining the ‘tragedy of the commons’ debate Fratkin conducts a literature review on the history of development and government policies towards pastoralism in the 1970s and 1980s citing cases from East Africa (Maasai and Barabaig), Mongolia and China. He argues that the paradigms underlying the big development projects of the time, emphasizing privatization, commercialization, and decentralization fundamentally misunderstood the value, necessity, and knowledge of traditional pastoralist practices. Thus, the interventions of governments and international organizations frequently proved harmful and the accumulating external threats to pastoralist populations leave their future uncertain. Fratkin concludes that fundamental policy changes, such as land rights, access to credit and banks, and a recognition of the rationality and expertise embodied in their practices are needed to allow these populations to continue living of livestock herding. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Garrin, A.R., Marcketti, S.B. ‘Ages and stages: African American women and their lives through their hair’. In Feminist Interrogations of Women’s Head Hair. Routledge. 2018. 

Garrin and Marcketti studied the experiences of African American women from 1960 to 1974, exploring the intertwined influences of family, society and the self on their hair choices throughout different periods of their lives. They particularly emphasize the pivotal role of mothers and caretakers in fostering self-confidence and cultural identity in the next generation. The chapter also covers the influence of the civil rights movement, during which the wearing of natural hair became a political tool and was, for the first time, perceived as more beautiful by the women and the community themselves. It observes the choices made by the women depending on the different spaces they navigate – private, public, professional contexts. In these various contexts, hair is depicted as a powerful tool for both conforming to and resisting social expectations and power dynamics, reflecting broader struggles related to cultural and racial identities. Annotated by Justine Noëlle Bosset. 

McCaskell, Tim. Queer progress: From homophobia to homonationalism. Toronto: Between the Lines, 2018. 

This is a book by Tim McCaskell, and argues that homophobia is used by States, such as criminalizing homosexuals. By examining and interpreting others’ work, a more nuanced understanding of the text is provided with analysis. A limitation of the article can be seen in the domestic nature, where it focuses on homosexuality in Canada and criticizes non-western countries. The aspect of race and the differences among nations are offered in a white-centric view, thus missing a globalized analysis of homonationalism.  Annotated by Xinyang Sun. 

Mulokozi, M.M. “Lucy Lameck - Africans Are Not Poor.” In Women Writing Africa: The Eastern Region, edited by Amandina Lihamba, Fulata L. Moyo, M.M. Mulokozi, Naomi L. Shitemi, and Saida Yahya-Othman, 3:223–24. The Women Writing Africa Project. New York: The Feminist Press at the City University of New York, 2007.

This collection spans writings from Eastern African women from 1711 to 2004. It compasses diverse texts ranging from lullabies, protest songs, political speeches, story tales, letters, court statements to a Nobel peace prize lecture. The book seeks to correct an oppressive silence in the historical records and restore women’s voices in texts that are both of sociohistorical importance and that showcase women’s struggle for emancipation and survival against patriarchal power. Their topics span the momentous local, national, and international changes of three centuries from slavery, religion, colonial rule and racism, anti-colonial resistance, independence and eventual nation-building, environmental and health concerns. Each writing is accompanied by a brief introductory text putting it into historical and biographical context. Annotated by Franziska Köstler. 

Puwar, N. Space invaders: Race, gender, and bodies out of place. 2004. 

This book interrogates the relationship between body and space. In modern times, institutions have been on a journey to prove that they are diverse and are dedicated to creating a safe space for their employees. However, the book explains that organizations, institutions, and entities fail at this because ethnic minorities and women are often perceived as space invaders. The ideology is that those groups of people do not belong in those spaces, even if they are historically the natural occupants. Instead, those spaces are occupied by white men. This book illustrates the importance of space as it relates to the body and how it should not be positioned through the white gaze. It interrupts the performative nature of institutional diversity by pointing out the burden that racialized bodies have in their attempts to occupy space. Annotation by Favour Imhomoh.

Ruddick, Sara. Maternal Thinking : Toward a Politics of Peace. New York : Ballantine. 1990.

In this book, Ruddick contends that the practice of mothering, which focuses on socialisation, protection, and nurturing development, fosters attitudes inherently opposed to war. Ruddick uses contrasting arguments throughout her work to highlight the differences between the conventional male perspective on war and the very different perspective formed by women. The book very explicitly contends that war is inherently embedded in masculine values, and maternal values are not in line with those tendencies. Throughout the book, the author presents numerous lithographs as evidence of women's disproportionate suffering in war compared to men. In addition, the author employs historical details to illustrate how mothers have historically cared for survivors of war, mourned the loss of their sons, and laboured ceaselessly to provide sustenance for their families. Mothering is against war as mother creates, where war destroys. It integrates how Ruddick expands the concept of mothering beyond biological mothers in this book. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Scheper‐Hughes, Nancy. "Maternal Thinking and the Politics of War." Peace Review 8 (3) 1996: 353–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/10402659608425979.

This article challenges the conventional view of women, particularly mothers, as inherently peaceful and resistant to war. In this paper, the author explores examples from different regions where maternal claims have been invoked to justify or resist political conflicts. She argues that mothering experiences, especially in conditions of scarcity, political disruption, and violence, lead women to accept the sacrifice of their sons to war despite their different moral commitments. Scheper-Hughes suggests that motherhood is not inherently opposed to militarism and that women's actions as mothers can vary widely, from promoting peace to supporting war, depending on social, cultural, and political factors. Annotated by Tamanna Aziz Tuli. 

Taussig, Michael. Defacement. 1st Ed. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1999.

Anthropologist Michael Taussig questions what humans considered sacred from different vantage points, respectively states, secret societies, governments, family, and popular culture at large. By relying on ethnography, philosophy, fiction, poetry, and cinema, the author analyzes how and why societies organize themselves around secrets, things not to be spoken in public despite their ubiquity in the lives of the subjects concerned. More precisely, he discusses our tendency to desecrate what is considered sacred as two concepts that are related more than might be perceived at first glance. Annotated by Claude-Emmanuel Hiol.

Weitz, R. 2001. ‘Women and their hair: Seeking Power through Resistance and Accommodation’. Gender & Society 15 (5): 667–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/089124301015005003. 

This article focuses on the testimonies of a various range of women, from different age ranges, religion, classes, and sexualities to better understand the relationship with their hair. It defines what is power, how it can be exerted through the body and explores how women seek it both through resisting and accommodating mainstream norms for female hair. This research highlights the strengths and limitations of both these strategies. Even though the body is perceived as a powerful tool for resistance challenging women’s subordinate position, feeling empowered can also come through the accommodation to beauty standards. Through this article, Weitz emphasizes that considering accommodation and resistance as polar opposites is an oversimplification, as they should rather be considered as coexisting strategies complementing each other when seeking empowerment, as an individual or as part of a group.  Annotated by Justine Noëlle Bosset.