The book addresses the disturbing figure of the female perpetrator, challenging the prevailing image of femininity as inherently compassionate.
From a semiotic perspective, Cristina DiMaria, Mario Panico and Patrizia Violi analyze the recurring narratives, representations and plots that shape the identities of women perpetrators of violence in conflict contexts, questioning the boundaries of a complex gray area concerning women involved in violence. Through case studies drawn from texts and documentaries, they explore the relationship between gender, culture and agencyIt has real and historically documented characters. Women who perpetrate violence in conflict zones, or who side with male perpetrators, appear to transcend the perceived boundaries of their gender, challenging prevailing stereotypes of femininity. Indeed, the shock these women inflict seems twofold: Beyond the violence perpetrated, there is something deeper and more cruel, an indescribable wound related to the rejection of the systems that govern the standards and behaviors of femininity as well as its sexuality.
