A Women’s History Archive: Cyprus Library Online for Gender (CLiO for Gender)

Description

The project aims to collect primary sources regarding women’s history in Cyprus which will concern the period between 1878 and 1960 (such as old newspapers, interviews, archive material, photographs etc.) that will be concentrated in a digital online archive which will be open to the public. It also aims to examine and evaluate the potential impact of knowledge regarding women’s history on contemporary stereotypes and beliefs on gender.

Link to website

http://www.clioforgender.com/ 

Country and location

Cyprus

Actors/partners

The project is implemented by Promitheas Research Institute; Center for Gender Equality and History (K.I.I.F); and the University of Cyprus.

The project is implemented under the program Restart "Social Innovation 2016-2020" of the Research Promotion Foundation and is co-funded by the Republic of Cyprus and the EU Regional Development Fund. 

Objectives 

The objectives of the project are to:

promote the history of women in Cyprus while tackling a series of issues

reinstate and recover the historical knowledge regarding women

deconstruct history myths and stereotypes referring to the history of genders

demonstrate the importance of women’s contribution to the progress and development of the Cypriot society

contribute towards the direction of gender equality through an innovative path that will acknowledge the gap in historiography in regards to women and the fact that history remains gender biased

empower and encourage women to demand their rights and equality

Results 

An online data base – The Cyprus Library Online for Gender (CLiO) that will be openly accessible to all and will host all the data collected during the implementation of the project

A report on the modern and contemporary history of women both locally and internationally

An extensive research aiming to examine and evaluate the potential impact of knowledge regarding women’s history on contemporary stereotypes and beliefs on gender. This stage will involve a group of students with the aim of studying and evaluating the impact that knowledge on women’s history may potentially have against gender stereotypes and relevant beliefs.

Why is it considered a good practice? 

Because this will address one of the major contemporary social challenges in European societies, Cyprus not excluded: gender inequalities and social stereotypes. These inequalities and stereotypes, which place women in a disadvantageous position, are produced and reproduced constantly via various mechanisms and institutions; history is an essential part in this process because it determines todays believes and attitudes

Its digital archive allows for extensive replicability to other local contexts and/or addition of other forms of neglected histories

Elements of replicability in other contexts

Online data base - Data will include primary sources such as interviews, and secondary sources such as publications in newspapers and magazines, archives of individuals or of organizations etc.

Online library that will operate via a data search engine.