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If most people have a strong impulse for self-preservation, why do individuals fight wars? The author believes the answer lies in gender relations--the way in which femininity and masculinity are defined--and the power of the military in society. She explores the link between war and gender in South Africa during the last decade. Through interviews with victims of violence, resisters, and militarists, the author reveals that although the South African Defence Force (SADF) and the ANC's Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) reflect the myriad differences between a conventional and a guerrilla army, women in both armies have been subject to similar processes of incorporation and exclusion. Provocative and well-written, it will be interesting for both the haunting personal accounts and the clear analysis of the issues.