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Sisters in Arms
A history of female combatants, from those who joined the military disguised as men to the current role of women in the armed forces.
In October 2018, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that all roles in the military would now be open to women. Although this marks a historic shift, officially allowing British women into combat roles, the presence of women on the front lines dates back to antiquity. Beginning with the founding myth of the Amazons--in reality female warriors of a nomadic tribe to whom the Greeks attributed super-heroic powers--Julie Wheelwright explores the history of women in arms. She traces our fascination with these figures, many of whom successfully disguised themselves as men, using primary sources and their own words to bring their experiences vividly to light. Among these forgotten heroines are Christian Davies, Ireland’s most famous 18th-century soldier, who received poems from adoring women claiming that she represented a resurgence of "the Amazonian race"; Sarah Edmonds, who left her native Canada and was among hundreds of women to enlist on both sides during the American Civil War; Maria Bochkareva, a private in the Tsar’s army and leader of the Women’s Battalion of Death in 1917; and Captain Flora Sandes, hero of the Serbian Army, who toured Australia, thrilling her audiences with tales of bravery and patriotism.
The book follows the evolution of women in combat, from the Scythian women who begat the Amazonian myth, to the passing women in the eighteenth century, and on to the re-emergence of women as proud members of the armed forces in various countries in the 20th and 21st centuries. The book also explores the formalization of women’s military roles and questions the contemporary relationship between masculinity and combat.
In October 2018, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson announced that all roles in the military would now be open to women. Although this marks a historic shift, officially allowing British women into combat roles, the presence of women on the front lines dates back to antiquity. Beginning with the founding myth of the Amazons--in reality female warriors of a nomadic tribe to whom the Greeks attributed super-heroic powers--Julie Wheelwright explores the history of women in arms. She traces our fascination with these figures, many of whom successfully disguised themselves as men, using primary sources and their own words to bring their experiences vividly to light. Among these forgotten heroines are Christian Davies, Ireland’s most famous 18th-century soldier, who received poems from adoring women claiming that she represented a resurgence of "the Amazonian race"; Sarah Edmonds, who left her native Canada and was among hundreds of women to enlist on both sides during the American Civil War; Maria Bochkareva, a private in the Tsar’s army and leader of the Women’s Battalion of Death in 1917; and Captain Flora Sandes, hero of the Serbian Army, who toured Australia, thrilling her audiences with tales of bravery and patriotism.
The book follows the evolution of women in combat, from the Scythian women who begat the Amazonian myth, to the passing women in the eighteenth century, and on to the re-emergence of women as proud members of the armed forces in various countries in the 20th and 21st centuries. The book also explores the formalization of women’s military roles and questions the contemporary relationship between masculinity and combat.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2020
6 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 9, 2020
I'll begin with a quote: "Beginning with the founding myth of the Amazons--in reality female warriors of a nomadic tribe to whom the Greeks attributed super-heroic powers--Julie Wheelwright explores the history of women in arms. " Not my advanced copy.
Whilst ever so briefly mentioning the Amazons, this lengthy tome focuses heavily on the period from the 18th Century onwards and predominantly on the UK, USA and USSR (for want of a better collective term). It covers quite succinctly the areas of gender disguise and open enlistment, the maintenance of the fiction (ie: women disguised as men), the fear of discovery and punishment, and the experiences of these women upon their return from active duty and their new-found celebrity. I, however, was looking for more of the historical aspect rather than the more "recent" history.
It is the final chapters the look at the continuity between historical and contemporary female warriors, but again within the parameters as set out above. There is a good section on sources, notes and extensive bibliography for those wishing to explore this topic further.
This will still make for a good sourcebook for those wishing to explore more - again, within the actual parameters.
Whilst ever so briefly mentioning the Amazons, this lengthy tome focuses heavily on the period from the 18th Century onwards and predominantly on the UK, USA and USSR (for want of a better collective term). It covers quite succinctly the areas of gender disguise and open enlistment, the maintenance of the fiction (ie: women disguised as men), the fear of discovery and punishment, and the experiences of these women upon their return from active duty and their new-found celebrity. I, however, was looking for more of the historical aspect rather than the more "recent" history.
It is the final chapters the look at the continuity between historical and contemporary female warriors, but again within the parameters as set out above. There is a good section on sources, notes and extensive bibliography for those wishing to explore this topic further.
This will still make for a good sourcebook for those wishing to explore more - again, within the actual parameters.
March 7, 2023
3 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book is interesting and putting women back into military history is great. The thematic lens with case studies was an interesting approach. While there was a 2020 review of the book I think an additional review to look at motives and other considerations, particularly the cases from WWII where there might be more detail available would be valuable. Reading immediately before IWD makes me wish this book was more and had more detail than 250 pages (excluding references etc) can allow.
This book is interesting and putting women back into military history is great. The thematic lens with case studies was an interesting approach. While there was a 2020 review of the book I think an additional review to look at motives and other considerations, particularly the cases from WWII where there might be more detail available would be valuable. Reading immediately before IWD makes me wish this book was more and had more detail than 250 pages (excluding references etc) can allow.
July 6, 2021
Disappointing. Not really an overview of women warriors throughout history as much as an examination of queer women who enlisted/pretended to enlist in the 18th and 19th centuries. While interesting, since the book isn't actually *about* that, it prevents a full exploration of both topics.
February 18, 2020
"I spoke to you of Amazons before... but I could give you many examples of women on our own ships who did men's service and were exceptionally brave. Of these, I could tell many amusing stories only they would take up too much paper." - Nicolaas Witsen
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Osprey Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by saying that this is not a book about female warriors FROM antiquity TO the new millennium. It's actually more of a book about the Scythian women who started the Amazons myth and A LOT of examples of women soldiers and sailors who tried to enlist from the 18th century onwards. I enjoyed most of these stories, but I have to admit I was looking for recounts on the HUGE part that is missing between the Greek myth of the Amazons and modern history. There was a lot of space that could have been covered, and I can't believe there were not stories about those times. The book focuses heavily (maybe too much) on stories set in URSS, UK, and the USA when it could have benefitted by telling us about women from the rest of the world. It focused too much on gender disguise (the colored tube had me laughing for HOURS) and the fear of being caught, it was great to read about it the first five times, but at some point, it's not interesting anymore. At least for me.
It felt like the book could have been so much more with maybe a different kind of editing, but it's, in fact, a missed opportunity.
One star goes solely to the extensive bibliography at the end that I will consult FOREVER.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Osprey Publishing for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Let me begin by saying that this is not a book about female warriors FROM antiquity TO the new millennium. It's actually more of a book about the Scythian women who started the Amazons myth and A LOT of examples of women soldiers and sailors who tried to enlist from the 18th century onwards. I enjoyed most of these stories, but I have to admit I was looking for recounts on the HUGE part that is missing between the Greek myth of the Amazons and modern history. There was a lot of space that could have been covered, and I can't believe there were not stories about those times. The book focuses heavily (maybe too much) on stories set in URSS, UK, and the USA when it could have benefitted by telling us about women from the rest of the world. It focused too much on gender disguise (the colored tube had me laughing for HOURS) and the fear of being caught, it was great to read about it the first five times, but at some point, it's not interesting anymore. At least for me.
It felt like the book could have been so much more with maybe a different kind of editing, but it's, in fact, a missed opportunity.
One star goes solely to the extensive bibliography at the end that I will consult FOREVER.
September 6, 2024
Concentrating notably on Napoleonic-era instances of women who fought in battle, Sisters in Arms tends to repeat itself on occasions. Nonetheless the accounts of those women who, invariably seeking to escape the rigid patriarchy of the 18th and 19th century (and more recently) makes for a good read.
Julie Wheelwright focuses on women from North America and Europe, so Americans, Canadians, French, British, German and Russian women feature. There's only one sentence mentioning Kurdish female fighters, and the IDF, which is perhaps the most fully-integrated military in history, gets no mention at all. Wheelwright is an academic and mention of Israel in 2020 (the books publication date) may simply be a reflection on how academia is these days.
That women fought isn't a surprise, principally because so many, on retirement took to writing their accounts or even going on lecture tours, notably in the late 19th century. What was a surprise though was that a few women managed to succeed in securing pension, though often having to approach monarchs or high-ranking officials directly to do so.
There are some mistakes. For instance Wheelwight mentions on page 217 that the female ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) pilots of WWII were paid less than their male counterparts. That's accurate, but she fails to note that this imbalance was corrected in 1943 by Parliament; the first instance of equal pay legislation in the UK, and long before the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
That aside, the photo section is excellent and there's an Index (hurrah!) Endnotes and a Bibliography.
Julie Wheelwright focuses on women from North America and Europe, so Americans, Canadians, French, British, German and Russian women feature. There's only one sentence mentioning Kurdish female fighters, and the IDF, which is perhaps the most fully-integrated military in history, gets no mention at all. Wheelwright is an academic and mention of Israel in 2020 (the books publication date) may simply be a reflection on how academia is these days.
That women fought isn't a surprise, principally because so many, on retirement took to writing their accounts or even going on lecture tours, notably in the late 19th century. What was a surprise though was that a few women managed to succeed in securing pension, though often having to approach monarchs or high-ranking officials directly to do so.
There are some mistakes. For instance Wheelwight mentions on page 217 that the female ATA (Air Transport Auxiliary) pilots of WWII were paid less than their male counterparts. That's accurate, but she fails to note that this imbalance was corrected in 1943 by Parliament; the first instance of equal pay legislation in the UK, and long before the Equal Pay Act of 1970.
That aside, the photo section is excellent and there's an Index (hurrah!) Endnotes and a Bibliography.
February 18, 2020
It seems that women have been at the forefront of war for a long time, even when women weren't officially allowed to serve, many did by disguising themselves as men. Although there is a brief mention of the Amazons, the examples are mainly from the USA, the UK, and Russia but cover a large period of time, including the American Civil War and the First World War.
I thought it was an interesting read about a subject that I know little about. To read about women who wanted to either fight alongside their spouses or fiances, and others who wanted to learn a trade and carve out a better life for themselves was fascinating. The author discusses the obstacles they faced both serving and afterwards when returning to civilian life, and brings this up to date with the issues still facing women in the military today. Overall, an informative read if rather narrow in its geographical focus.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Osprey Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I thought it was an interesting read about a subject that I know little about. To read about women who wanted to either fight alongside their spouses or fiances, and others who wanted to learn a trade and carve out a better life for themselves was fascinating. The author discusses the obstacles they faced both serving and afterwards when returning to civilian life, and brings this up to date with the issues still facing women in the military today. Overall, an informative read if rather narrow in its geographical focus.
Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Osprey Publishing, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
August 12, 2021
Probably a 3.5
This book looks at women in the military. The majority of the book is about historical figures from the 17th to early 20th centuries, many of whom disguised themselves in order to become soldiers, and we learn about their lives during and after their military careers. This part of the book is by far the most interesting, and we learn a lot about how society has viewed femininity and gender roles through the centuries. The final two chapters seem tacked on (the second to last even has a little introduction section explaining what is to come), and feel more like a college paper than a book. Still, overall a worthwhile read.
This book looks at women in the military. The majority of the book is about historical figures from the 17th to early 20th centuries, many of whom disguised themselves in order to become soldiers, and we learn about their lives during and after their military careers. This part of the book is by far the most interesting, and we learn a lot about how society has viewed femininity and gender roles through the centuries. The final two chapters seem tacked on (the second to last even has a little introduction section explaining what is to come), and feel more like a college paper than a book. Still, overall a worthwhile read.
December 15, 2020
“As military historian Linda Grant De Pauw so eloquently explains: ‘Women have always and everywhere been inextricably involved in war. This thesis is simple and is supported by an abundance of evidence, but because it has profound, complex, and emotionally charged implications, the roles of women in war are hidden from history.’”
An insightful history of female warriors and women in war: from individuals that dressed as men, to societies that embraced female warrior culture. Would recommend.
An insightful history of female warriors and women in war: from individuals that dressed as men, to societies that embraced female warrior culture. Would recommend.
July 20, 2024
Wheelwright looks at women throughout history who have taken up arms to serve their country. From the warrior-like Amazons to women who disguised themselves as men because a life of domesticity did not suit, this book explores the who and the why. There is some repetition but, overall, it's an interesting book on a fascinating topic.
November 30, 2020
Not as enjoyable as I had hoped, the material is a bit repetitive and jumbled together. I did love reading about the different women, from the different centuries, who have shared their experiences of going off to war and would love to learn more about them.
Want to read
February 9, 2021Sisters in Arms provides a history of women in the military. I requested this for material on the various biographies and memoirs for my novel. This was a good read, no matter what you use the information for.
April 23, 2024
I love this writer for putting women back on the historical map. Complex, fierce and as brave as any brother the contribution of women in war has been grossly neglected until now. It’s beautifully written and well researched. I find her work inspirational. I couldn’t put it down.
Currently reading
January 6, 2020I'm reading an advanced copy of this book provided through #netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2023
Questo libro non è un libro femminista, a differenza di quanto ci si aspetterebbe vedendo la copertina. È un saggio storico-antropologico, molto ben fatto, sui modi in cui le donne hanno, letteralmente, fatto la guerra e perché, cosa le ha spinte, come hanno fatto a sopravvivere (non alla guerra ma a un mondo estremamente maschilista che le considerava inferiori e inutili allo scopo). Molto interessante.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews