Work

Gendered nursing in Ottoman Palestine: imperial entanglements and female agency during World War I

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: In Ottoman Palestine during World War I, nursing became a site where the imperial government's power intersected with local agency in a gendered arena. Utilising the Gender and Empire framework, this article examines the roles of foreign (American and British) and Jewish nurses and how caregiving transcended the bounds of medical care to serve as a vehicle for diplomacy and negotiation. Nurses served as mediators between imperial authorities and local populations, navigating complex political and cultural fault lines and maintaining wartime infrastructure. Their experiences in Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Jewish agricultural colonies highlight the significant contributions of women in healthcare and survival, which are largely ignored in military and political histories. By following nursing practices, the article reframes notions of gender, empire, medical discipline, and colonisation through the lens of healthcare, revealing how ideologies of empire shaped healthcare while creating opportunities for women's agency and cross-cultural interaction in novel ways.

Source: Women s History Review

DOI: 10.1080/09612025.2026.2704264

Author: Ronen Segev

Institution: Tel Aviv University

Language: English

Topic: World Wars: History, Literature, and Impact

Subfield: Political Science and International Relations

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia, Barbara Bates Center for The Study of the History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, University of Virginia School of Nursing