From Memory to Reality

Studies on the First World War have been met with increasing popularity in Portugal, a phenomenon also occurring in other countries. During the last few years, several commemorative activities took place, ranging from exhibitions to conferences to publications. Despite such unprecedented enthusiasm, these events have been mainly male-focused, apart from a few exceptions. This article aims to identify how current studies within and beyond the academic community take into consideration gender perspectives when remembering the Great War in Portugal. It offers a short overview of commemorative events in Portugal that have included gender narratives and their limitations. What academic books and articles have been published? What exhibitions highlighted women’s participation in the First World War? Have the media been covering war and gender perspectives in particular? Despite a certain interest in the Great War’s centenary, the role of Portuguese women continues to be reduced to second rate. The article will give possible reasons for this scenario and discuss potential future developments

Art · Art history · commemoration · Enthusiasm · Exhibition · First World War centenary · gender narratives · gender perspective · Literature · Media studies · Narrative · Phenomenon · Political science · Popularity · Portuguese · Portuguese historiography · Portuguese women · Sociology · Spanish Civil War · war memory · war reporting · World War I · World War II · African history and culture studies · Gender Studies · Historical Gender and Feminism Studies · History · Law · Memory, Trauma, and Commemoration · Psychology · Social Psychology · Visual Culture and Art Theory · World Wars: History, Literature, and Impact