Shadow Parenthood in European Modernism (SPEM)

Objective

Shadow Parenthood in European Modernism (SPEM) investigates how Western European modernist fiction (c.1900–1940), written amid intense social, political, and sexual upheaval, depicted non-traditional parenthood—namely same-sex caregiving, adoptive or single parenting, interracial relationships, and ambivalent attitudes towards parenting, including reluctance, regret, or refusal. SPEM introduces the term shadow parenthood to describe these emotionally complex but socially marginalised forms of, or orientations towards, care that lack legal, biological, or institutional status. Like a shadow extending from its figure, these roles expand notions of who counts as a parent while revealing how social expectations about reproduction shape family and belonging—even for those resisting such norms. Analysing twelve modernist works (mainly novels, some plays), the project shows how these texts challenge dominant kinship models through their subject matter and narrative techniques. Its comparative approach further highlights differences between Northern and Southern European representations of shadow parenthood, shaped by distinct cultural contexts. Methodologically, SPEM combines close reading (fine-grained textual analysis) with insights from anthropology and sociology on kinship, as well as digital humanities tools that enhance both analysis and accessibility. Together, these elements ensure a fully interdisciplinary approach. Ultimately, SPEM argues that by depicting such non-traditional forms of care, modernist literature did not merely reflect its time but made an overlooked contribution to reimagining kinship beyond institutional models, anticipating and influencing contemporary debates on reproductive justice, care, and belonging. In doing so, the project supports Horizon Europe’s Cluster 2 goals by demonstrating how cultural imaginaries shape both inclusive and exclusionary social structures.