Special consideration in this volume is given to gender issues arising during periods when upheaval challenged colonial regimes, which often resulted in decolonization and independence. Chapters also reveal how former colonies transitioned into ‘nations,’ along with transnational dynamics that took place among modern states. A common thread woven through each article is the matter of precisely who it was that deserved to be treated and recognized as fully human in an era of imperial exchanges and ongoing capitalist globalization. Authors describe hemes as labour, commodities, fashion, mobility, and activism while exploring the dynamics of empire in destinations ranging from Africa and the Americas to Europe and Asia. .Originally published as Gender & History Volume 26 Issue 3