The French Army and Muslim Women During the Algerian War (1954–62)

Abstract

AbstractThis paper examines the itinerant women-only medical and social teams, created by the French army during the Algerian decolonisation war, which sought to instrumentalise and win over women through access to medical and social services. It is argued that the teams were instrumental in two significant events during the Algerian war: the public unveiling of Muslim women in May 1958 and the September 1958 referendum, in which Muslim women voted for the first time. This paper argues, however, that the teams' achievements were short lived and superficial and that the teams themselves faced severe limitations.