The female face of Europe – hidden histories, transnational dynamics, new approaches (HER-EUROPE)

The project at a glance

Start date:

01 Sep 2024
Duration in months:

24
Funding:

European University Institute, Florence (EUI) / Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, Florence (RSCS) / University of Luxembourg/Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH)
Principal Investigator(s):

Elena DANESCU

About

The research project HER-EUROPE pioneers a new approach to the history of European integration by placing women’s life stories at the center of analysis. It explores how women from diverse spheres—including politics, activism, civil service, diplomacy, journalism, academia, and expert communities—have experienced and shaped European cooperation and integration in the aftermath of the Second World War. Addressing a critical gap in the historiography, the project highlights the often-overlooked female contributions to the democratization, modernization, and Europeanization of society. Combining systematic archival research with newly generated sources—such as oral history interviews—and drawing on digital multimedia archives, open-access resources, and biographical methods, the project brings to light the political, socio-cultural, and economic impact of women both as individuals and as key actors within international and transnational networks. It also investigates the complex relationships between ideas, ideologies, practices, and discourses that have underpinned European integration processes. By consolidating existing databases and creating new materials and scholarly-public networks, the project aims to reshape the dominant, male-centered narrative of European integration into a more inclusive account—transforming “his-story” into “her-story.” Through a gendered, bottom-up perspective, it enables both micro- and macro-level analyses, contributing to emerging strands of historical and political research. Finally, by leveraging innovative digital technologies, the project not only enhances traditional historical methodologies but also reimagines them, opening new epistemological horizons and broadening the interpretive landscape of European history.