Category Archives: Women and Gender History

Sex, Gender, and World War II

Marie Louise Roberts explores gender and sexuality among American soldiers serving in France during the Second World War in a new book entitled, What Soldiers Do: Sex and the American GI in World War II France. Roberts is Professor of … Continue reading

Posted in Civilians and Refugees in War, European History, French History, Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, War, Culture, and Society, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

First Gay Marriage Celebrated in Montpellier

The first gay marriage in France has been celebrated in Montpellier. Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau married on 29 May 2013 in this southern French city— the first gay couple to be officially wedded as the new law legalizing gay … Continue reading

Posted in French History, Human Rights, Languedoc and Southern France, Religious History, Religious Politics, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Gender Studies Under Fire in France

The academic field of gender studies is under attack in France. The debate over gay marriage has prompted many French conservative politicians and Catholics to severely criticize gender studies for undermining family relations and traditional society. Conservative political and religious … Continue reading

Posted in Academic Freedom, Education Policy, European History, European Union, French History, Humanities Education, Political Culture, Religious Politics, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

France Legalizes Gay Marriage

France has passed a law to allow gay marriages, becoming the ninth nation in Europe to legalize gay marriage. President Hollande signed the law today, 18 May, and the first legal marriages will be held on 28 May. The French … Continue reading

Posted in European History, European Union, French History, Human Rights, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Blogs about War and Society

It is sometimes difficult to find an audience for academic blogs and internet resources amid the vast blogosphere. I am pleased to find that this blog has been featured in an article on blogs that deal with war and society … Continue reading

Posted in Digital Humanities, Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, Humanities Education, Information Management, War, Culture, and Society, Warfare in the Early Modern World, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Rape in the Syrian Civil War

Sexual assault often accompanies military conflict. In many wars, some soldiers use their armed power to inflict sexual violence on prisoners and civilians. Sexual violence can at times become systematic, targeting specific groups of combatants or civilians to intimidate and … Continue reading

Posted in Civil Conflict, Civilians and Refugees in War, Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, Human Rights, War, Culture, and Society, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Early Modern Religious Orders

The Newberry Library in Chicago hosted a conference on Early Modern Religious: Comparative Contexts this weekend. The conference offered comparative perspectives on monks, friars, nuns, and lay people who were involved in Catholic religious orders in early modern European, Mediterranean, … Continue reading

Posted in Conferences, Early Modern Europe, Early Modern World, European History, European Wars of Religion, French History, Mediterranean World, Reformation History, Religious History, Renaissance Art and History, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Sexual Violence in the U.S. Armed Forces

Sexual violence in the United States Armed Forces has become a major problem. Numerous studies and public scandals have highlighted incidents of rape and sexual harassment, which have often gone unpunished. Women who report sexual harassment and rape claim that … Continue reading

Posted in Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, Human Rights, War, Culture, and Society, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment

Women Already in Combat

American women are already serving in combat. Although news analysts and commentators continue to debate the merits of placing women in combat roles, many women soldiers and veterans have been dealing with the realities of combat duty for quite some … Continue reading

Posted in Gender and Warfare, History of Violence, Human Rights, Strategy and International Politics, War, Culture, and Society, Women and Gender History | 2 Comments

Domestic Violence and Gun Rights

Gun rights advocates are challenging the legal protections granted to victims of domestic violence. Women who have been physically abused and threatened often seek protective orders (restraining orders) from city and county courts. In some states, those restraining orders may … Continue reading

Posted in Arms Control, History of Violence, Human Rights, Women and Gender History | Leave a comment