Feminist Archival Activism in Kosovo

Abstract This article turns the gaze toward the practice of feminist archival activism in Kosovo. It aims to analyze whether and how feminist archives and archival activism are challenging and problematizing mainstream historical threads in Kosovo. It aims to address two main questions: how is feminist archival activism problematizing and challenging the postwar masculine hegemonic narrative in Kosovo? How does feminist archival activism resist the marginalization of women in mainstream historical narratives? The analysis relies on six semi-structured interviews with prominent feminist activists, independent researchers, and artists who engage in archival research and documentation. The analysis is complemented through a review of archival depositories, collectives, and initiatives. The article intends to fill the gap in the literature regarding archival activism in Kosovo, particularly on archival activism as a feminist practice. Furthermore, it aims to contribute to the broader discussion on the “archival turn” in the post-Yugoslav space.