Suchergebnisse

Organizing Women: Formal and Informal Groups in the Middle East. Dawn Chatty and Annika Rabo. eds. New York: New York University Press, 1997.224pp.Crazy for Democracy: Women in Grassroots Movements. Temma Kaplan. New York: Routledge, 1997.243 pp.Women and Social Movements in Latin America: Power from Below. Lynn Stephen. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1997.332 pp.Feminist Nationalism. Lois A. West. ed. New York: Routledge, 1997.294pp.

This contribution examines the gendered aspect of the American response to the issue of peace in the Cold War. In 1949, the US government accused the Soviet Union of launching a 'Peace Offensive,' designed to represent the Soviet Union as 'peace-loving' while painting the Americans as 'warmongers.' In recognition of the undeniable appeal of 'peace' as a rallying cry, the US sought to redefine the term in such a way as to illustrate the difference between what East & West meant by their commitment to the cause of peace. American women's associations had a particularly active role in US efforts to counter the Soviet 'Peace Offensive.' Leaders of US women's associations & policymakers within the government were concerned that the 'Peace Offensive' specifically targeted women, on the basis of their special gendered interest in peace. They tried to convince women across the globe that Soviet-backed peace campaigns lacked sincerity & that women's special interest in peace was best represented by the US. Adapted from the source document.