| Women Against the Good War: Conscientious Objection and Gender on the American Home Front, 1941-1947 Contributor(s): Goossen, Rachel Waltner (Author) |
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ISBN: 0807846724 ISBN-13: 9780807846728 Publisher: University of North Carolina Press OUR PRICE: $45.13 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: November 1997 Annotation: During World War II, more than 12,000 male conscientious objectors seeking alternatives to military service entered Civilian Public Service to do forestry, soil conservation, or other "work of national importance". But this government-sponsored, church-supported program also attracted some 2,000 women - most of whom were part of Mennonite, Amish, Brethren, or Quaker families with deeply held antiwar beliefsto 151 alternative service locations across the country. Rachel Waltner Goossen tells the story of these women against the "good war", women who identified themselves as conscientious objectors. Despite cultural hostility and discriminatory federal policies, they sought to demonstrate their humanitarian convictions by taking part in Civilian Public Service work. Based on little-known archival sources as well as oral history interviews and questionnaire responses, Goossen's study reveals the extent to which these women's religious and philosophical beliefs placed them on the margins of American society. Encouraged by religious traditions that prized nonconformity, these women made unusual choices, questioned government dictums, and defied societal expectations; all of which set them apart from the millions of Americans who supported the war effort. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Women's Studies - History | Military - World War Ii - History | United States - 20th Century |
| Dewey: 940.531 |
| LCCN: 97-9885 |
| Lexile Measure: 1560 |
| Series: Gender and American Culture |
| Physical Information: 0.52" H x 6.12" W x 9.26" (0.73 lbs) 200 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 1940's - Chronological Period - 20th Century - Sex & Gender - Feminine |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: During World War II, more than 12,000 male conscientious objectors seeking alternatives to military service entered Civilian Public Service to do forestry, soil conservation, or other 'work of national importance.' But this government-sponsored, church-supported program also attracted some 2,000 women--most of whom were part of Mennonite, Amish, Brethren, or Quaker families with deeply held antiwar beliefs--to 151 alternative service locations across the country. Rachel Waltner Goossen tells the story of these women against the 'good war, ' women who identified themselves as conscientious objectors. Despite cultural hostility and discriminatory federal policies, they sought to demonstrate their humanitarian convictions by taking part in Civilian Public Service work. Based on little-known archival sources as well as oral history interviews and questionnaire responses, Goossen's study reveals the extent to which these women's religious and philosophical beliefs placed them on the margins of American society. Encouraged by religious traditions that prized nonconformity, these women made unusual choices, questioned government dictums, and defied societal expectations, all of which set them apart from the millions of Americans who supported the war effort. |
Contributor Bio(s): Goossen, Rachel Waltner: - Rachel Waltner Goossen teaches history at Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana. |
