Lives of Courage: Women for a New South Africa [Paperback]

Diana E. H. Russell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1991

In 1987 and 1988, Dr. Diana Russell journeyed from the United States to the land of her birth to learn about the special role of women in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. The fruit of her research is this extraordinary book: the first hand accounts, in their own words, of 24 courageous risk-taking women activists (portraits included). These are not only world-famous leaders like Winnie Mandela and Albertina Sisulu (although their stories are included in the book) but ordinary women who were trade unionists, members of radical organizations, student activists-black and white, African, Indian and Coloured, young and old.Lives of Courage: Women for a New South Africa compellingly dramatizes the little-known role of women who fought apartheid and its cruel apparatus-banning, banishment, house arrest, imprisonment, and torture-even as they strove to keep together their beleaguered families. With rare candor, they speak of the price they and families paid for their activism, of the difficulties of being a woman in a racist and sexist society, of the terrors they had endured, and of the dreams they nourished of a new South Africa. The fighting spirit of these women, their courage and conviction in the face of a modern state's vindictiveness, shines from every page of this inspiring book.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Apartheid, argues Russell ( The Politics of Rape) , sociology professor at Mills College in California, is intended to divide not only blacks from whites but all groups and families from each other. Raised in a white, English-speaking South African family, the author, who left at age 20, returned in 1987 to record these 24 moving oral histories of white and black women activist leaders of diverse ages, backgrounds and occupations in their struggles against oppression by the regime and by men. In addition to torture, sexual terrorism and degradation endured during prison terms, many of these women sacrificed motherhood to activism. Such famous leaders as Winnie Mandela, Albertina Sisula and Helen Joseph, among others included here, expect a revolution and stress the need for international pressure. Among those interviewed are members of the banned African National Congress, trade unions and groups primarily concerned with sexism and other feminist issues. These are tales of notable valor. Photos.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

South Africa-born sociologist Russell talks with women of diverse ethnicity about their role in the struggle against apartheid which took them out of their homes and led them to the realization that they were being exploited by their own men as well as the government. From the support groups formed to help each other cope with the effects of terror, torture, solitary confinement, and split families grew feminist organizations of varied kinds. Russell sees a bleak future--with growing discontent of the majority, including many whites, violence is sure to escalate. Increased world consciousness of their plight is the only ray of hope. The number of books on this topic is increasing, and this one will round out women's studies collections, but is a necessity for only the largest of Africana collections.
- Louise Leonard, Univ. of Florida Lib., Gainesville
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (June 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0465041418
• ISBN-13: 978-0465041411
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,597,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Diana E.H. Russell (Born November 6, 1938, South Africa) is a radical feminist writer and activist. For the past 40 years she has been engaged in research on sexual violence against women and girls. She has written numerous books and articles on rape (including marital rape), femicide, incest, misogynist murders of women, and pornography. For her book on incest, The Secret Trauma, she was co-recipient of the 1986 C. Wright Mills Award.