BRITISH SISTERS OF MERCY DURING THE GREAT WAR (1914–1918): A HISTORIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW

Abstract

In the scientific article, the author examines the activities of the British Sisters of Mercy during the Great War (1914–1918) through the prism of historiographical discourse. Documentary and visual evidence related to the traumatic military experience of British women during the First World War was used in the study of this issue. The participation of British women in the epicenter of hostilities on various fronts of the war is characterized. The borderline states of existence during the military conflict were analyzed, as well as the indicated results – total madness and military catastrophism.

The gender dimension of war is quite relevant, as a large part of Western European researchers in their scientific narratives pay attention to the place and role of women during the First World War.

The methodological basis of the research is based on the principles of objectivity and historicism. During the research, comparative, analytical methods and the method of gender monitoring were used. Scholarly novelty is based on the involvement of sources and historiography relating to the participation of British women (Sisters of Mercy) during the First World War. It is also important to supplement modern Ukrainian research on this issue.

Women’s history of the period of the Great War in Great Britain has interested a considerable number of researchers. Working with facts and source materials, scientists tried to recreate a realistic picture of wartime and focus their attention on the British, female experience.

At today’s stage, gender issues are one of the most popular in the world’s leading countries. This is evidenced by many factors, in particular, the opening of gender studies and scientific institutions for the study of gender history. Modern authors approach this problem in a new way and show that this direction is just beginning its development in Ukrainian historical science.

Keywords: Great War, Sisters of Mercy, women’s experience of war, Great Britain, women’s history, “white angel”.