In Paris, A History of Women and their Emancipation

On 23 February 2023, Schiller students from the Paris campus had the opportunity to discover a history of women in the 20^th century, the history of their emancipation, as seen through the Roger-Viollet Gallery collections.  

Freeing themselves from the guardianship of their fathers or husbands, many women eventually obtained all civil rights, on an equal footing with men.  These hundred years meant for women a conquest of their freedom.  

But how did women live during these decades? What was the fate of their time? Which famous women have marked their time? 

The Roger-Viollet Gallery exhibits a selection of 86 contemporary prints in a limited edition of 30 which Schiller students could discover and admire. These photographs are from the book Une histoire photographique des femmes au XX^e siècle published by Editions Gründ.  

Since 1938, the Roger-Viollet Gallery has dedicated itself to historical images and kept its soul and its 300 linear meters of boxes of photographic archives, green in color with the handwritten writing which is so characteristic and visible from the street through its long glass façade.  

This unique place in Paris is a must for students and lovers of the French capital, history, and photography. The gallery offers temporary exhibitions every three months, showcasing the photographers and collections of the Roger-Viollet Agency. 

Following their visit, students were asked to share their thoughts and impressions about the exhibition and what it specifically brought to their learning in the framework of the IR 511 Current Issues in International Relations & Diplomacy: Theories course. 

This outdoor experiential learning activity was organized by Dr. Myriam Benraad, Global Academic Chair for International Relations & Diplomacy at Schiller, Schiller International University.