Researching women as teachers and learners of languages: An introduction

This volume aims to address the historical neglect of women's contributions to language learning and teaching, highlighting female figures who have pioneered language education as learners, teachers, governesses, authors, parents, and wives, across various cultural and linguistic traditions. The chapters cover a broad historical sweep, from the 13th to the 20th century, and a wide range of languages, including Greek, Arabic, French, and English. By drawing on neglected sources and critically re-examining familiar ones, they reveal women's agency in shaping language education, demonstrating how their contributions have been systematically undervalued. The contributors call for a broader, more inclusive historiography and a shift from a male-centric narrative to one that acknowledges the contributions of women in shaping educational practices globally.