TY - JOUR
T1 - Playing the daft lassie with them
T2 - gender, captivity and the special operations executive during the second world war
AU - Pattinson, J.S.
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - This article examines the gender-specific experiences of female prisoners, using SOE agents arrested by the Nazis during the Second World War as a case study, in order to contribute an understanding of the complex interaction of the identities of 'woman', 'soldier' and 'prisoner'. Using oral history, as well as information gleaned from auto/biographies and SOE reports, it is argued that many female captives resorted to gender stereotypes by 'playing the daft lassie', that they experienced punishment with distinct sexist and sexual overtones and that gender was significant in their accounts of incarceration within concentration camps. Examining the gendered experiences of captivity casts light on the male chauvinistic nature of the Nazi regime, illuminating the SS and Gestapo response to being confronted with women who overstepped traditional gender boundaries by undertaking paramilitary roles.
AB - This article examines the gender-specific experiences of female prisoners, using SOE agents arrested by the Nazis during the Second World War as a case study, in order to contribute an understanding of the complex interaction of the identities of 'woman', 'soldier' and 'prisoner'. Using oral history, as well as information gleaned from auto/biographies and SOE reports, it is argued that many female captives resorted to gender stereotypes by 'playing the daft lassie', that they experienced punishment with distinct sexist and sexual overtones and that gender was significant in their accounts of incarceration within concentration camps. Examining the gendered experiences of captivity casts light on the male chauvinistic nature of the Nazi regime, illuminating the SS and Gestapo response to being confronted with women who overstepped traditional gender boundaries by undertaking paramilitary roles.
KW - gender
KW - captivity
KW - special operations executive
KW - second world war
KW - daft lassie
KW - special operations
KW - ww2
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13507480600785955
U2 - 10.1080/13507480600785955
DO - 10.1080/13507480600785955
M3 - Article
VL - 13
SP - 271
EP - 292
JO - European Review of History
JF - European Review of History
SN - 1350-7486
IS - 2
ER -