Militarizing Marriage: West African Soldiers' Conjugal Traditions in Modern French Empire

Militarizing Marriage explores how African servicemen advanced conjugal strategies with women at home and abroad, highlighting the sexuality, gender, and exploitation of women in the violent colonial expansion and everyday operation of colonial rule.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 318 pages
\n Publication date: 28 May 2021
\n Publisher: Ohio University Press
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Following the deployment of tirailleurs sénégalais in various regions across West Africa, Congo, Madagascar, North Africa, Syria-Lebanon, Vietnam, and Algeria from the 1880s to 1962, Militarizing Marriage offers a historical exploration of how African servicemen advanced conjugal strategies with women both at home and abroad. In her insightful work, Sarah J. Zimmerman delves into the evolution of womens conjugal relationships with West African colonial soldiers, shedding light on how the sexuality, gender, and exploitation of women played a central role in the violent colonial expansion and the everyday functioning of colonial rule within the modern French Empire.

These conjugal behaviors evolved into military marital traditions that normalized the intimate expression of colonial power in the social reproduction across the empire. Soldiers from different colonial backgrounds and interracial households emerged at the crossroads of race and sexuality, challenging the traditional colonizer/colonized binary. Militarizing Marriage employs contemporary feminist scholarship on militarism and violence to portray how the subjugation of women was essential to military conquest and colonial rule.

Through a comprehensive analysis of historical documents, personal narratives, and cultural representations, Zimmerman uncovers the complex dynamics between African servicemen, their wives, and the broader colonial context. She highlights how these relationships were shaped by power disparities, cultural norms, and economic considerations, and how they contributed to the perpetuation of colonial dominance.

Militarizing Marriage also sheds light on the experiences of women who were subjected to the coercion, abuse, and exploitation that often accompanied these conjugal relationships. Zimmerman explores the ways in which women negotiated their position within these complex power dynamics, seeking to assert their autonomy and protect their interests. She highlights the resilience and creativity of women who faced immense challenges and fought for their rights within the colonial context.

The book's significance lies in its ability to challenge prevailing narratives about the history of colonialism and the role of women in it. By highlighting the centrality of womens experiences and perspectives, Militarizing Marriage offers a fresh and nuanced understanding of the complex web of relationships that shaped the colonial world. It provides valuable insights into the ways in which gender, sexuality, and power intersected to shape the course of history, and it serves as a call to action for scholars and activists working to address the ongoing legacies of colonialism and gender inequality.

In conclusion, Militarizing Marriage is a groundbreaking work that contributes significantly to our understanding of the history of colonialism and the role of women in it. Through its meticulous research, compelling analysis, and thoughtful engagement with contemporary feminist scholarship, Zimmerman offers a valuable contribution to the field of history and gender studies. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complex intersections of power, gender, and sexuality in the colonial world, and it serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality and social justice.

\n Weight: 466g\n
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 22 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780821424476\n \n