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.

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