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Soldaderas: Women Revolutionary Fighters in Mexico and Around the World

This list was created to accompany Soldaderas: Female Mexican Revolutionary Figures, Larger than Life, a community lecture presented by The University of Oregon Center for the Study of Women in Society Road Scholars program. Soldaderas is a multimedia presentation examining the political, cultural and social history of women fighters in the Mexican Revolution.

Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) and Zapatista Uprising (1994- )

Limon, Graciela
Erased Faces: A Novel
(2001)
FICTION LIMON
A novel following Latina photojournalist Adriana Mora as she travels to the Mexican state of Chiapas, where she becomes involved in the events surrounding the 1994 Zapatista uprising.
Poniatowska, Elena
Las Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican Revolution
(2006)
ON ORDER
A richly illustrated history of soldaderas and their role in the Mexican Revolution.
Salas, Elizabeth
Soldaderas in the Mexican Military: Myth and History
(1990)
ON ORDER
A history of Mexican fighting women from the pre-Columbian era to the present.

Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)

—
Libertarias [videorecording]
(2004)
DVD SPANISH Drama LIBERTARI
The fictional story of a young nun who is forced to leave her convent when troops arrive in Barcelona. She takes refuge with a group of women freedom fighters. (In Spanish, with optional English subtitles.)
Mangini Gonzalez, Shirley
Memories of Resistance: Women's Voices from the Spanish Civil War
(c1995)
946.081 M277m
An exploration of the varied roles of women during Spain's Civil War, including antifascist milicianas, who were foot soldiers and rear guard for the Republican forces.

Ireland, Easter Rising (1916) and Civil War (1922-1923)

McCoole, Sinead
No Ordinary Women: Irish Female Activists in the Revolutionary Years, 1900-23
(2003)
941.50821 M129n 2003
Profiles of women activists in the struggle for Irish independence, many of whom fought in guerrilla-style warfare together with Irish men.

Prelude to the Russian Revolution (1870s-1880s)

Engel, Barbara Alpern
Five Sisters: Women Against the Tsar
(1975)
920.047 E57f
A biography of five anarchist women who helped lay the foundations for the Russian Revolution.

United States Civil War (1861-1865)

Tip: Look for more books about women's participation in the United States Civil War by searching the library catalog for the subject: United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 - Participation, Female.

Allen, Thomas B.
Harriet Tubman, Secret Agent: How Daring Slaves and Free Blacks Spied for the Union During the Civil War
(2006)
j B-T885aL 2006
Brief biography of Harriet Tubman and other African-Americans who fought for the Union in the Civil War.
Blanton, DeAnne and Lauren M. Cook
They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the American Civil War
(2002)
973.7082 B643t 2002
A comprehensive history of women soldiers during the Civil War.
Clinton, Catherine
Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom
(2004)
B-T885cL 2004 and LGE-TYPE B-T885cL
A biography of one of the most capable conductors of the Underground Railroad, who was also a Union spy during the Civil War and a participant in John Brown's failed raid at Harper's Ferry.
Eggleston, Larry G.
Women in the Civil War: Extraordinary Stories of Soldiers, Spies, Nurses, Doctors, Crusaders, and Others
(2003)
973.7082 E29w 2003
Profiles of more than 50 women who were soldiers, spies, nurses, doctors and scouts for both sides in the U.S. Civil War.

French Revolution (1789-1799)

Streissguth, Thomas
Women of the French Revolution
(2005)
j 944.04 S915w 2005
A brief history of women revolutionaries — including fighters — in France.

United States Revolutionary War (1775-1783)

Tip: Look for more books about women's participation in the United States Revolutionary War by searching the library catalog for the subject: United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 - Participation, Female.

Young, Alfred Fabian
Masquerade: The Life and Times of Deborah Sampson, Continental Soldier
(2004)
B-Ga156y 2004
A biography of Deborah Sampson, who disguised herself as a man and fought in the Revolutionary War.

Books about women soldiers and revolutionaries from many places

Tip: Look for additional general books about women soldiers and revolutionaries by searching the library catalog for these subjects: Women revolutionaries and Women soldiers

Kampwirth, Karen
Women & Guerrilla Movements: Nicaragua, El Salvador, Chiapas, Cuba
(c2002)
305.42098 K15w 2002
A chronicle of women's participation in battles for social and democratic change in Nicaragua, El Salvador and Chiapas, with comparisons with the much more male-dominated revolution in Cuba.
Salmonson, Jessica Amanda
The Encyclopedia of Amazons: Women Warriors From Antiquity to the Modern Era
(1991)
355.0082 S172e
A handy guide to soldiers and other women warriors throughout history, with brief articles on thousands of women fighters.