How can we make subalterns speak ? Lessons and advice from historians of imperial domesticities

19 juin 2025

Dre Stéphanie Soubrier, UNIGE

Dre Loraine Chappuis, UNIGE

Pre Claire Lowrie, University of Wollongong

Pre Victoria Haskins, University of Newcastle

Pre Swapna Banerjee, CUNY

Pre Julie Hardwick, University of Texas, Austin

Drawing on the work of historians who specialize in domestic labor in colonial contexts, this workshop invites a broader conversation about the methodological challenges and stakes involved in writing the history of subaltern and marginalized individuals. How can we give voice to those who have long been silenced? What kinds of sources-oral testimonies, visual materials, state or institutional archives-can we turn to, and how should we use them? What specific difficulties does this kind of research pose, and how might we address them? And how do we shape our narratives to meaningfully convey our findings?

This workshop will benefit from the expertise of four historians who have dedicated their careers to studying domestic workers rendered invisible through the intersecting lenses of race, class, and gender. But it is by no means limited to scholars of colonial history. It is open to all PhD students grappling with these methodological questions, whether working on modern or contemporary topics, and regardless of their geographical focus. 

Participants are not expected to submit a paper in advance. However, we kindly ask them to prepare a short presentation (5 to 7 minutes maximum) outlining their research, sources and any methodological issues to initiate the discussion. Alternatively, participants are welcome to share a source (1-2 pages) that presents particular difficulties, which can serve as basis for discussion."

Programme (PDF)

UNIGE

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