Research Project
Rethinking Medusa
and Other Women’s Stories
Narratives, images and gendered imaginaries in children’s literature and young adult literature.
Project focus
Making room for women’s lives, voices and images.
The polymorphic nature of children’s literature establishes a close contact with gender studies. In this perspective, it is possible to investigate key female figures, rethinking their experiences and lives as women in order to disrupt the stereotypes that have taken root in society. Medusa is emblematic of this approach: despite being a victim of sexual abuse, in Greek myth and many of its retellings she becomes a terrible monster.
This research project aims to enhance a pedagogical reflection on gender equality and inclusion, promoting female empowerment against gender stereotypes and fostering a culture of respect between women and men.
Research perspectives
From archetype to situated story.
LETIN research reads children’s literature as a space where inherited figures can be revisited, where visual forms shape gendered imaginaries, and where young readers can develop critical ways of engaging with stories.
Reframing myths
Classical figures and fairy tale characters are considered across their literary and visual retellings, with attention to violence, agency and the cultural work of recurring stereotypes.
Seeing women differently
Picturebooks, biographies and biofiction offer forms through which girls’ and women’s lives, knowledge and creative practices become visible to younger audiences.
Teaching through stories
The project connects literary analysis with pedagogical reflection on respectful relationships, inclusion and the role of critical visual literacy in education.
Research continuum
From Medusa to biography.
Questions opened by this project continue in LETIN’s work on biographies and biofiction for young readers. The BIBI programme brings research, educational practice and cultural partnerships together around gender respect, women’s histories and the plurality of life narratives.
Selected research record
Publications and academic exchange.
Selected work by Marnie Campagnaro and Chiara Malpezzi situates the project within research on women’s life writing, gendered representation and pedagogical practice.
Campagnaro, M. Reframing Biography for Children: Historical Roots, Research Trajectories, and Literary‑Visual Strategies. Strenæ, 27.
Malpezzi, C. Women’s Biographies in Italian Children’s Literature (1962 to 2022). Historical and Ecofeminist Perspectives. PhD thesis, University of Padua.
Malpezzi, C. Biografie e divulgazione scientifica: quali ricadute pedagogiche? MeTis, 13(2), 165 to 181.
Campagnaro, M. Clothing the Child in Red: A Historical and Comparative Analysis of Italian Visual Retellings of the Grimms’ “Little Red Riding Hood”. Strenæ, 18.
Malpezzi, C. What Food Do We Feed Girls as Artists Upon? Food, Artistic and Gender Equality in Children’s Literature. Ars educandi, 17, 89 to 104.
Campagnaro, M. Sull’abitare. Geografie domestiche e visioni di “genere” nei libri per l’infanzia dagli anni Sessanta ad oggi. In G. Zago, C. Callegari and M. Campagnaro (Eds.), La casa. Figure, modelli e visioni nella letteratura per l’infanzia dal Novecento ad oggi (pp. 79 to 108). Pensa MultiMedia.
Campagnaro, M. Chiara Carrer e il “senso” del femminile nella fiaba contemporanea. In M. Campagnaro, Il cacciatore di pieghe. Figure e tendenze nella letteratura per l’infanzia contemporanea (pp. 55 to 78). Pensa Multimedia.
Campagnaro, M. La sindrome di Medusa. Educazione sentimentale e adolescenti. In M. Campagnaro, Il cacciatore di pieghe. Figure e tendenze nella letteratura per l’infanzia contemporanea (pp. 97 to 120). Pensa Multimedia.
Campagnaro, M. Storie di donne scritte da donne. La proposta iconica di Chiara Carrer. In S. Chemotti (Ed.), Le graphie della cicogna. La scrittura delle donne come ri velazione (pp. 393 to 414). Il Poligrafo.
BIBI: Non solo Marie Curie e Frida Kahlo. Workshop at Biblioteca Italiana delle Donne, Bologna, led by Marnie Campagnaro, Corina Laasch and Chang Li.
Figuriamoci… le bambine. BIBI seminar series. Marnie Campagnaro served on the scientific committee; Chang Li and Chiara Malpezzi served on the organising committee.
International Lecture The Materiality of Love. Book Objects and Sentimental Education in Contemporary Children’s and Young Adult Literature.
International Conference Re‑framing Lives. Historical, Literary and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Biography.
Seminar Prospettive di genere e letteratura per l’infanzia. Un dialogo possibile?.
PRIN Seminar Esercizi di autorità nella vita scolastica. Rappresentazioni della dirigenza nella Letteratura per l’infanzia dopo l’Unità.
International Seminar Black Lagoons: Disrupting Stereotypes in Children’s Literature.
Project connections
Research, teaching and public knowledge.
Research fields
Explore the LETIN research areas that bring literary studies into dialogue with visual culture, education, environment and social representation.
Corso LETIN
Discover the advanced interdisciplinary course in children’s literature, reading education, visual literacy and environmental humanities.
BIBI
Follow the national research and educational programme on gender respect through children’s biographies and biofiction.