Renate Haas (ed.), Rewriting Academia. The Development of the Anglicist Women’s and Gender Studies of Continental Europe, Peter Lang Edition, Frankfurt am Main, 2015

Abstract

The review considers Rewriting Academia. The Development of the Anglicist Women’s and Gender Studies of Continental Europe, a volume edited by Renate Haas, Professor of English at University of Kiel and author of important publications focusing on English Studies. The book contains contributions by 25 experts from Continental Europe who had been asked to survey the status of Women’s and Gender Studies in their respective countries, taking as privileged perspective the historical and European contextualization of the subject. The geographical division Haas has chosen helps to identify the differences and difficulties Departments are facing when confronted with such a relatively new topic, as well as the reticence some national Governments keep to maintain when asked for funds to help strengthen and broaden the area of study. Particular relevance will be given to the Italian case of the Bologna Centre, which on the other hand constitutes an emblematic example of how Women’s and Gender Studies need further increase as they represent a crucial phase in the development of Gender’s equality and rights.