Based on more than a decade of fieldwork, this provides a unique grassroots perspective on a post-conflict society. Jennie E. Burnet relates the heart-wrenching survival stories of ordinary Rwandan women and uncovers political and historical themes in their personal narratives. She shows that women's leading role in Rwanda's renaissance resulted from several factors: the dire post-genocide situation that forced women into new roles; advocacy by the Rwandan women's movement; and the inclusion of women in the post-genocide government.

Jennie E. Burnet is associate professor of global studies and anthropology at Georgia State University. Her research focuses on women's roles in peace-building and democratization and on the long-term consequences of gender-based violence in conflict.