Europe, Land of Equality? Women's Rights in Historical Perspective (25/03/2025)- Lecture: BIP "ROME AT THE ORIGINS OF EUROPE—THE LEGACY OF A MULTILAYERED CITY SHARED BY DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES".

Europe, Land of Equality? Women’s Rights in Historical Perspective This presentation, delivered by Dr. Susana Martínez Rodríguez, Full Professor of Economic History at the University of Murcia, offers a critical and historically grounded exploration of the evolution of women’s rights in Europe. Structured within the framework of a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP)—“Rome at the Origins of Europe: The Legacy of a Multilayered City Shared by Different Communities”—this session is part of a transnational teaching initiative co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Through a multidisciplinary and comparative approach, the presentation interrogates whether Europe can be considered a genuine model of gender equality. It traces the intellectual, legal, and institutional developments shaping women's access to citizenship, education, labor markets, and political representation from the Enlightenment to the 21st century. Key themes include: The contradictions of Enlightenment thought regarding female citizenship. The role of pioneering thinkers and activists such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Olympe de Gouges. The emergence and fragmentation of the European suffragist movement. The impact of major historical ruptures—such as the two World Wars and authoritarian regimes—on women's rights. Contemporary disparities in gender equality across European states, as highlighted by the Global Gender Gap Report (2023). By combining historical analysis with present-day data, the presentation provides a nuanced understanding of the persistent challenges and diverse trajectories within the European gender equality landscape. It also reflects on how cultural, political, and institutional legacies continue to shape women's rights and representation in different national contexts. This session is enriched by interactive tools (e.g., Mentimeter, BBC QUIZZ) and is supported by extensive bibliographic references, making it an excellent resource for students and scholars of Economic and Social History, Gender Studies, Political Science, and European Integration. ¿Quieres que lo traduzca al español o necesitas una versión más breve para usar en un folleto o cartel?