Social and Cultural History Today

How far did women support Oswald Mosley''s Black Shirts? This important reference work fills a significant gap in the historiography of British fascism, which has generally overlooked the contribution of the women''s movement to Britain''s fascist experience. Looking at female fascist activism and the influence of feminist ideology on the fascist agenda, Gottlieb shows the significant impact of feminist thought in this area. In spite of its mainstream vocal opposition to fascism, parts of the women''s movement as Gottlieb demonstrates, had an implicit connection with the British Union of Fascists.

Gottlieb''s extensive research, which makes use of newly released government documents, a huge range of contemporary pamphlets, newspapers and speeches, and original interviews with those personally involved in the fascist movement, provides an impressive and convincing body of evidence to support her claims.