Liberia's Women Veterans: War, Roles and Reintegration

Leena Vastapuu's book, "Liberian Women Veterans," uses auto-photographic methodology to tell the story of 133 female former soldiers who experienced the Liberian civil wars of the 1990s and 2000s. The book provides an in-depth account of their experiences of trauma, stigma, and reintegration into post-war society, and argues that they can play an important role in post-war reconciliation and peace-building. It overturns gendered perceptions of warfare and militarism and provides a unique take on humanitarian practices and post-conflict societies.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2019
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

The Liberian civil wars of the 1990s and 2000s were marked by unfathomable atrocities and the widespread deployment of child soldiers. Girls and young women, who constituted up to 40% of these combatants, have largely been excluded from narratives of the conflict. In her groundbreaking work, Liberias Women Veterans, Leena Vastapuu employs an innovative auto-photographic methodology to shed light on the experiences of 133 female former soldiers who played pivotal roles in Africa's most brutal civil wars. Through the integration of their testimonies alongside captivating illustrations by Emmi Nieminen, the book offers a profound and comprehensive account of these women's lives, encompassing their profound trauma, societal stigmatization, and the arduous journey of reintegration into post-war society. Vastapuu compellingly argues that these women, often perceived as mere passive victims of the conflict, possess the potential to actively contribute to post-war reconciliation and peace-building. By challenging gendered perceptions of warfare and militarism, the book provides a unique perspective on humanitarian practices and post-conflict societies, making it an indispensable read for policymakers, students, and scholars alike across the humanities and social sciences.

Weight: 308g
Dimension: 139 x 216 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786990808