Spaces of Knowledge and Gender Regimes: From Double Marginalization to a Gendered History of Knowledge in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

The article explores the heuristic potential of gender studies and area studies (especially those concerned with Central and Eastern Europe) and appeals for a decentring of research units such as ‘general history’ and ‘Europe’ within historiography. It criticises the often mechanical use of spatial categories that ignores the fabrication of spaces by area specialists, and the reification of gender identities within women’s and gender studies. It argues for a combination of gender and area sensitive research in order to evade the juxtaposition of constructivism vs. essentialism. History of knowledge and feminist theory of science are described as useful tools for such an approach.