Decentering the Enlightenment: Crossing Global and Gender Perspectives2

Abstract

Global and transnational history and women’s and gender history are dynamic historiographical currents that invite more intense cross-fertilization—especially in studies on the Enlightenment and its open legacy. Our article seeks to stimulate theoretical and methodological discussion on how these approaches might fruitfully interact. What can a gender perspective add to current perspectives on a global Enlightenment? And vice-versa, what do transnational and global perspectives that are interested in cultural transfers and sensitive to empire, race, and ethnicity add to current studies on gender and the Enlightenment? Building on the experience and ongoing research of our collective project CIRGEN: Circulating Gender in the Global Enlightenment: Ideas, Networks, Agencies, we aim to further efforts to decenter the Enlightenment in its multiple senses in relation to geographies, actors, and gazes.