The collection's focus is on girls' secondary education, and hence the gendered cultural expectations of the middle classes and upper classes, will provide the dominant narrative, given the relatively recent democratization of European educational systems.

James Albisetti, University of Kentucky, USAJoyce Goodman, The University of Winchester, UKRebecca Rogers, Université Paris Descartes (Paris 5), FranceHilda Amsing, University of Groningen, The NetherlandsHelena C. Araújo, University of Porto, PortugalKrassimira Daskalova, University of Sofia, BulgariaE. Thomas Ewing, Virginia Tech, USAConsuelo Flecha, University of Seville, SpainLaura Fonseca, University of Porto, PortugalEliane Gubin, Université libre de Bruxelles, BelgiumJuliane Jacobi, University of Potsdam, GermanyAgneta Linné, Örebro University, SwedenCristina Rocha, University of Porto, PortugalSimonetta Soldani, University of Florence, ItalyMineke van Essen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands

Introduction: Girls' Secondary Education in the Western World: An Historical Introduction;  J.C.Albisetti , J.Goodman& R.Rogers Class and Religion: Great Britain and Ireland; J.Goodman Culture and Catholicism: France; R.Rogers The Influence of Confession and State: Germany and Austria; J.Jacobi Chequered Routes to Secondary Education: Italy; S.Soldani Between Modernization and Conservatism: Spain; C.Flecha Toward the Recognition of their Educational Rights: Portugal; H.C.Araújo , C.Rocha& L.Fonseca Champion in Coeducation: the Netherlands; M.Van Essen& H.Amsing Politics and Anti-clericalism: Belgium; E.Gubin Lutheranism and Democracy: Scandinavia; A.Linné Nation-building, Patriotism and Women's Citizenship: Bulgaria in South Eastern Europe; K.Daskalova From an Exclusive Privilege to a Right and an Obligation: Modern Russia; E.T.Ewing Europeans and the American Model of Girls' Secondary Education; J.C.Albisetti Crossing Borders in Girls' Secondary Education; J.Goodman& R.Rogers