Photographed in Shanghai
I was born in Danyang, a small town where I grew up as a typical “exam warrior”. Though I didn’t make it to Nanjing University as I had once hoped, life took an unexpected turn and led me to Nankai University instead. Looking back, that twist of fate became a blessing — I met the teachers and friends who changed my life.
When I was young, school holidays meant being “abandoned” in the local bookstore while my parents worked. That wasn’t a punishment—it was heaven. I spent whole afternoons reading all kinds of books.
Like many history-loving kids, I was first drawn to the dramatic: Hitler and the Holocaust. But somehow, after taking a Christian history course with Professor Zheng, I ended up falling into the world of the Middle Ages.
The limited sources, the puzzling old records, and the mystery of medieval life pulled me in so deeply that I couldn’t escape — Sometimes I just want to scream, “Why did I have to end up studying the Middle Ages?!”. And so began my love-hate relationship with dead languages and elusive archives.
At first, I didn’t quite understand why studying women’s history was necessary. I was more drawn to political history because it seemed broader—there were so many topics to explore, so why limit myself to just women? But over time, I realized that only women can truly empathize with women’s experiences. The academic world and history itself need women’s voices.
However, I refuse to confine my work to “women’s history” as a separate field. I want to bring women into political history and study them just like men — as full political actors, not as a niche topic. Women belong at the heart of political history, not off to the side.
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Also see: Research
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Not one famed for titles or weighed down by volumes of work. If I can write one monograph in my lifetime, and support those passionate about learning medieval German history, that alone would give my academic journey meaning.
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Contant me: [email protected] | [email protected] | [email protected]
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About me | CV | Research | Teaching | Blog
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Copyright © Qianying GUO | Last update: 2026.07.30