GENDER AND NATION

The article outlines some of the main dimensions in which gender relat ions are crucial in understanding and analysing the phenomena of natio ns and nationalism, and the specific boundaries of inclusions and excl usions that they construct. Three major dimensions of nationalist proj ects that relate to citizenship, culture and origin are differentiated . In each of them gender relations play specific roles and have mobili zed specific struggles. The article looks at the dualistic nature of w omen's citizenship, as both included and excluded from the general bod y of citizens. Even when there is a formal equality of women in their political rights as citizens, other modes of exclusion in the politica l, social and civil spheres continue to operate. The particular ways i n which the entry of women into the military has been linked to strugg les for women's equality as citizens are examined in this context. In relation to national cultures, both secular and religious, the article examines the ways in which women play the roles of cultural transmitt ers as well as cultural signifiers of the national collectivity. The l ast part of the article examines the role of women as biological repro ducers of 'the nation' and how a variety of means are taken in order t o ensure that the biological reproduction will fall within the legitim ate boundaries of the collectivity.