Search Climate Insights Directory

The author uses participant observation in France, Italy, and Spain to show that 'back to nature' movements often value physical endurance and 'hard life' virility over domestic labour. This creates a hierarchy where women are marginalised, particularly during motherhood or when seeking external employment, effectively turning a 'back to the land' movement into a 'back to the house' experience for many women.

The paper examines how women in a conflict-affected district of Assam utilize the concept of 'motherhood' to enter the political sphere and engage in peacebuilding. It challenges security expert assumptions that these women lack independent agency, finding instead that while they are often linked to tribal identities and militant factions, they use these alliances to build political power. The author notes a tension between 'motherhood' as a tool for tribal mobilization and as a potential basis for a common female identity for peace. The study also highlights the barriers to formal political participation, such as male-dominated party structures and a lack of seat reservations in tribal areas.