UPEI professor co-edited newly published book
UPEI history professor Sarah Glassford co-edited the recently published 'A Sisterhood Of Suffering And Service' with her colleague Amy J. Shaw, associate professor of history at the University of Lethbridge.
The book delves into the lives of women and girls of Canada and Newfoundland during the First World War. Glassford and Shaw drew together the work of 12 contributors creating specific sections including volunteer and paid work, family and grief, and poetry and novels.
When asked why she decided to research this particular topic, Glassford explained that the woman's role in the First World War was less visible than it was during the Second World War, something that is of interest to both editors. Oftentimes women are left out of First World War histories and commemorations when, in fact, they played a large role noted Glassford, and they wanted to write women and girls back into the story.
'Women and girls were certainly an integral part of wartime society-contemporaries constantly praised their service and sacrifice-but over the century since then, their experiences have been largely forgotten,' said Glassford. 'I like to think we've done something to reverse that trend.'
Glassford and Shaw questioned whether women were transformed as a result of the First World War. Based on their own and their contributors' research, they've found both change and continuity in a big picture sense; on a personal level, however, it is clear that the war could be very transformative for women.
'We spent five years thinking about these women and girls and trying to make sense of what it was like for them to live through the war while having little means of influencing its outcome,' added Glassford. 'As a result, I feel a kind of personal connection to the women of that era-that I owe it to them, not just to make sure their side of the story isn't forgotten, but to do justice to their experiences.'
Glassford hopes the book will be useful to others interested in the topic and those wishing to do more research on the women of the First World War. The book can be purchased on amazon.ca, or through UBC Press.
