Rosemarie Skaine

Women in Combat: A Reference Handbook explores the history of women during conflicts, starting with the American Civil War through to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This book examines the historical background, current dilemmas, and the global context of the issue of women in combat. The authors draws from leading sources and personal interviews- statistical data, primary source documents, a directory of organizations, print and eletronic sources- to explore both sides of the argument pertaining to women serving in combat roles.… (mehr)

Although I do not really like Skaine’s writing style, which tends to be confusing for the reader, she has found some good, valuable, up-to-date information and has conducted a great many valuable oral history interviews, all of which she has included in this book. She explores a variety of extremely sensitive political issues surrounding the question of women in combat, including readiness, physical abilities, unit bonding and cohesion, and pregnancy. For the most part, Skaine does a good job of dealing with these complex and confusing emotional issues. Some chapters are definitely better than others. For example, the chapter which deals with the historical perspective of women in combat is not particularly good, because the information she used is outdated. On the positive side, some chapters contain extremely interesting and valuable contemporary information that I have not seen in print elsewhere. Chapter Four, for example, deals with women at the Military Academy’s and is very well done, with information on some of the first academy graduates and statements from some which are fresh and thought provoking. I also liked the Chapters titled "Readiness" and "Ability."… (mehr)