Sexuality and War

This compelling book offers an exploration of the indissoluble link between war and sexuality based on over twelve years of interviews by the well-known Lebanese expatriate teacher, critic, and writer. Evelyne Accad explores what she calls the indissoluble link between war and sexuality. She refers to sexuality as the physical and psychological relations of men and women, and examines Middle Eastern customs involved in defining such relationships. She argues that many of the problems faced by societies at war stem from the way male sexuality is viewed and imposed and from the oppression of women within cultural parameters. For twelve years Professor Accad interviewed women throughout the Middle East about their sexuality and relationships with men. On the basis of these interviews and a close study of six novels written by both men and women on the subject of the Lebanese war, she explores the connection between sexuality and war and contrasts the reactions of male authors with those of their female counterparts. Each author views war as having roots in sexuality. Evelyne Accad concludes that "there is a need for a new rapport between men and women, women and women, and men and men: there is a need for relationships based on trust, recognition of the other, tenderness, equal sharing, and love devoid of jealousy and possession. Since the personal is the political, changes in relationships traditionally based on domination, oppression, and power games will inevitably rebound in other spheres of life.