Some observations on the methodological approach to biography of the first female members of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts

Abstract

After almost three decades since the publication of the 17 volumes of the edition dedicated to Serbian male scientists, SANU has launched an edition of the collection of works on the female members of its institution. The aim of this article is to present the methodology and results of the first volume dedicated to female academics. Using the qualitative research method, the contents of the textual and visual material are analyzed, and using the comparative method, the similarities and differences with other similar efforts to shed light on the life and work of the first women in the highest scientific and artistic institution are examined. It is shown that the attention was primarily focused on the chronological presentation of the work of women academicians, and that there was mostly no consideration of the connections and relationships between the specificity of female gender identity and social norms. Although a gender-sensitive biographical model for prominent women in Serbian society was established in 1913 in the album Srpkinja, this model remained ignored in this collection. Recommendations for further research concern a more complete determination of the impact of gender differences and specificities from a historical and contemporary perspective, a critical examination of socio-political factors of gender discrimination, determination of professional and social ties of female academics. It is estimated that this article can improve the historiographical study of gender differences and specificities, and can be useful for the improvement of state policies of education and memory, work, employment and social policies.