FORGOTTEN WARRIORS: A History of Women on the Front Line, by Sarah Percy (John Murray, $39.99)
PERIOD: The Real Story of Menstruation, by Kate Clancy (Princeton University Press, $57.99 hb)
After their country was invaded by Russia in 2014, the Ukrainian government decided to let more women into the military. A military gender-equality law in 2018 gave women the same rights as men in the army, allowing them to fight on the front line. This proved fortuitous - by the time Russia invaded again in 2022, Ukraine's armed forces were flooded with highly motivated female recruits, and today they have proportionally more women serving than nearly any other country. (Interestingly, New Zealand is on par with Ukraine - our defence forces also have comparatively high numbers of women.) But in her fascinating book, Sarah Percy suggests that in Ukraine, the reality of war in every street and field made old distinctions between male combat and female non-combat roles "useless".
Vladimir Putin seems oddly allergic to the idea of women at the front line, even resorting to forced male conscription after running short on recruits. Perhaps he thinks women aren't up to it.
Russia's president is, Percy shows, flying in the face of history. Women have been elite fighters in Russia for more than 2000 years; the "forgotten warriors" of her title range from tattooed Scythian equestrian warriors to the "Night Witches", a highly decorated Soviet Air Force unit of World War II.
Denne historien er fra August 26, September 1 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 26, September 1 2023-utgaven av New Zealand Listener.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
First-world problem
Harrowing tales of migrants attempting to enter the US highlight the political failure to fully tackle the problem.
Applying intelligence to AI
I call it the 'Terminator Effect', based on the premise that thinking machines took over the world.
Nazism rears its head
Smirky Höcke, with his penchant for waving with a suspiciously straight elbow and an open palm, won't get to be boss of either state.
Staying ahead of the game
Will the brave new world of bipartisanship that seems to be on offer with an Infrastructure Commission come to fruition?
Grasping the nettle
Broccoli is horrible. It smells, when being cooked, like cat pee.
Hangry? Eat breakfast
People who don't break their fast first thing in the morning report the least life satisfaction.
Chemical reaction
Nitrates in processed meats are well known to cause harm, but consumed from plant sources, their effect is quite different.
Me and my guitar
Australian guitarist Karin Schaupp sticks to the familiar for her Dunedin concerts.
Time is on my side
Age does not weary some of our much-loved musicians but what keeps them on the road?
The kids are not alright
Nuanced account details how China's blessed generation has been replaced by one consumed by fear and hopelessness.