Women international civil servants and their contribution to international thought – 1920-1975

Public lecture by postdoc Myriam Piguet, the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History.

We have at INNER_LEAGUE the honour of hosting Myriam Piguet for a presentation on her soon to be published doctoral dissertation on women international civil servants and their contribution to international thought which she finished in 2024 at the Global Studies Institute, University of Geneva. The title of the dissertation is 'Gender Before Mainstreaming: The Integration of Women to International Civil Service in the Secretariats of the League of Nations and the United Nations, circa 1920-1975.' Myriam Piguet now works as a postdoctoral researcher at the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History and as the Vice-Head of the Contemporary European History research group. 

Brief

International organizations (IOs) were founded on the principles of fair representation and meritocracy, starting in the 1920s. From the League of Nations to post-Second World War IOs, all endorsed gender equality among their staff – however, none truly lived up to this promise. This presentation considers the progressive spread of gender equality through the lens of women’s career in the secretariats of IOs, with a focus on the League of Nations and the United Nations. It examines how international organizations selectively integrated women into their staff, delving into the experience of three high-level personalities of the IO system: Rachel Crowdy (U.K.), Alva Myrdal (Sweden) and Julia Henderson (U.S.). Drawing on their career trajectories and personal paths, this presentation will explore the gradual shift in the objectives of international organizations towards socioeconomic expertise, among which the implementation of family planning within the Development’s agenda.  

The presentation will include a discussion where participants are welcome to ask Myriam questions about her research and results. Everyone is welcome and there will be served coffee, tea, and cake a the event.

We hope to see you there!