How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women (Counterfire)

How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women looks at the remarkable impact of war on women in Britain. It shows how conflict has changed women's lives and how those changes have put women at the centre of peace campaigning. Lindsey German, one of the UK's leading anti-war activists and commentators, shows how women have played a central role in anti-war and peace movements, including the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The women themselves talk about how they overcame prejudice and difficulty to become valued members of the struggle. The book integrates this experience with a historical overview, analysing the two world wars as catalysts of social change for women. It looks at how the changing nature of war, especially the involvement of civilians, increasingly involves significant numbers of women. As well as providing an inspiring account of women's opposition to war, the book also turns a critical eye to contemporary developments, challenging negative assumptions about Muslim women and showing how anti-war movements are feeding into a broader desire to change society. Lindsey German is convenor of the Stop the War Coalition, which organised the biggest demonstration in British history against the Iraq war, and a regular contributor to Counterfire. She lectures at the University of Hertfordshire and is the co-author of A People's History of London (Verso, 2012) and author of Material Girls (Bookmarks, 2007) and How a Century of War Changed the Lives of Women (Pluto, 2013).