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The ERCIF research centre, which has been conducting research on femininities in the arts and literature since its founding in 1985 by Élisabeth Béranger and Ginette Castro, is organizing an international conference on October 9-10, 2025, to mark its fortieth anniversary.

Transdisciplinary in nature, this event reflects the activities of the research team, which brings together scholars from literature, languages, humanities, and social sciences, united by a common interest in:

• The study of the various ways in which women's creativity manifests across all literary and artistic fields (including photography, film, visual arts, choreography, music, etc.).

• Research on the imaginary of femininities, masculinities/femininities, and associated gender studies.

This multifaceted and inclusive approach—literary, artistic, historical, geographical, philosophical, anthropological, sociological, legal, or medical—adopts a resolutely diachronic perspective, giving ample space to the history of cultures and mentalities (the role of women and the status of femininity in society) as well as a comparative dimension (with an investigative scope spanning all cultural areas).

On this anniversary occasion, the conference aims to:

• Pay tribute to the pioneering members of the team.

• Revisit, in light of the most recent research, the themes, programs, approaches, and questions that have shaped the team’s journey since its inception and constitute its legacy (see summary below).

• Foster exchanges between early-career researchers and ERCIF’s long-standing partners to help shape the research of tomorrow.

• Maximize the societal impact of academic work that directly engages with contemporary global challenges.