War, Women and Post-conflict Empowerment

Finally, a book on post-conflict transitions that centres and celebrates the deep knowledge, diversity, and richness of Black women’s perspectives and experiences of post-conflict empowerment. This book is a welcome relief from simplified takes on gender and post-conflict that often centre whiteness and assume a singular experience of women post-conflict. Instead, this book takes the reader on a fascinating journey that explores the multiple meanings, obstacles, and gendered politics of post-conflict empowerment for Sierra Leonean women. * Megan MacKenzie, Professor, Simon Fraser University, Canada * This volume offers an excellent, comprehensive examination of Sierra Leonean women’s activism in ending the Civil War, establishing democracy and advancing gender equality. Coming from academic, policy and activist backgrounds, these authors succeed in providing a pathbreaking book – one which takes a transdisciplinary approach in recognizing the critical role of intersectionality and African-centered frameworks (as opposed to neoliberal approaches) in understanding Sierra Leonean women’s lived experiences and long history of activism. While many challenges remain for Sierra Leonean women in their quest for a more unified women’s movement and full gender equality, this book grapples with these complexities and offers recommendations for achieving gender justice. This is an inspiring collection which makes a major contribution to Feminist, Africanist and Global South scholar-activism! * Mary J. Osirim, Professor of Sociology, Bryn Mawr College, USA *