IFSGen emerged from discussions during the conference panel 'Romanian Women between Tradition and Modernization (the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century). Dilemmas, achievements, and perspectives,' organized during the Cluj Academic Days, October 13-15, 2021.
The conference catalyzed scholars researching women's and gender history, highlighting the need for an ongoing dialogue among the Romanian scholars who are conducting research in this field.
IFSGen was formally established in 2022, and functions based on an institutional partnership between the "George Emil Palade" University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu-Mureș, Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca through the University Cultural Heritage Department and the Research Center for Territorial Identities and Development within the Faculty of Geography, and the "George Barițiu" Institute of History of the Romanian Academy in Cluj-Napoca.
The founding members and coordinators are Associate Professor Ph.D. Georgeta Fodor, Ph.D. Claudia-Septimia Sabău, Senior Researcher Ph.D. Daniela Deteșan, and Associate Professor Ph.D. Oana-Ramona Ilovan.
Currently, IFSGen includes over 50 scholars from various disciplines, including history, gender history, anthropology, sociology, geography, museology, archival science, and demography, who share a common research interest.
The network is free of charge and intends to be an open forum for discussion, project cataloguing, and attracting specialists with shared interests into a dynamic, specialized community.
It also aims to raise awareness about the necessity of incorporating this field into school curricula.
Among the network's activities are the organization of an annual conference, the publication of articles and collective volumes, the organization of periodic meetings (Morning Coffee, workshops), the dissemination of information to network members, the highlighting of the latest editorial releases in Romania, and the listing of ongoing doctoral theses on these topics.
