Why Masculinity is Fragile: Understanding the Pressure on Men to “Be a Man”

by Zhenghao Lin
When the Chinese Ministry of Education announced that actions would be taken to cultivate students’ “masculinity” (MOE, 2021), some viewed it as the government’s clear and strong stance in supporting the “end of the effeminizing trend in society” (Xinhua, 2018). The plan, which aims to make students more “masculine” by moderately improving physical education teaching methods and formats, was seen as a response to growing concerns that the new generation of men might not be “masculine” enough to handle future responsibilities.

“I don’t feel safe at all” Intimidation, surveillance and Police Brutality. Social Safety or Terror at Radboud University?

Instead of addressing the many structural forms of discrimination and the way students become victims of policy, the university prioritizes events which are intended to function as a band-aid to these systemic failures. This absolves the administrative bodies of any responsibility regarding the hardships that the students are going through, and places the well-being of the students in the hands of each individual.

Objects of Desire: Curating and Archiving Sex Work with Rori Dior – Culturally Curious Ep.9

In this episode Nanette Ashby is joined by Rori Dior, a Berlin-based sex worker, anthropologist, activist, and co-founder of the archive Objects Of Desire. We discuss the ins and outs of creating and maintaining an archive such as Objects of Desire and the importance of institutional collaboration.

Tampons and Pads: The Italian Luxury

by Chiara Silipigni
Taxation on tampons and pads? Thank you Giorgia Meloni.
This is happening at the hands of Italy’s first Prime Minister in history.For many years, menstruation products, such as sanitary pads and tampons, were taxed by the Italian government at 22% (taxation reserved for luxury items or non-essential goods, such as computers, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, etc.).

Reclaiming the Maternal Body: Challenging the expectations and representation of pregnancy in Cindy Sherman’s self-portrait Untitled #205 (1989)

by Nanette Ashby

In the realm of contemporary art, few figures stand at the intersection of identity, culture, and photography as prominently as Cindy Sherman. Born in New Jersey in 1954, Sherman has carved a niche for herself through her pioneering photographic self-portraits. Her body of work challenges and deconstructs cultural norms and expectations, particularly those surrounding gender, celebrity, and the very medium she employs – photography itself.

Diversity on Stage: A Journey Through Queer(ing) Radboud 2.0

by Júlia Vicente
On December 4th, Queer(ing) Radboud 2.0 was held at Theatre C, Elinor Ostrom Building, Radboud University. I attended this event as a writer for Raffia Magazine, but also as a student eager to learn more about queer theory and connect with others who share similar interests.

Making love in Wartime: An exhibit covering how the Second World War affected people and their romantic relationships

by Stefan de Baar
The Vrijheidsmuseum, located in Groesbeek, has taken steps to tell the stories of how the war impacted ‘love’ during the Second World War whilst the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. Through this they shine a light on the lives and history of regular everyday people. We have taken the opportunity to visit their exposition ‘liefde in de oorlog’ or ‘Love in the war’ to see for ourselves.

Hiding abuse behind celebration: International women’s day at Radboud University

by Aya Ahlalouch
While celebrating women in academia is important, this approach raises deep concern. The event highlights women’s work without addressing the systemic barriers they face within the institution. Thereby, International Women’s Day is reduced to a token gesture rather than a meaningful commitment to women’s rights and gender equality.

Nothing about us without us! An interview with the disABILITY and accessibility committee of Radboud University

by Sorina Bularca
According to the World Health Organization (2023), one in six people has a disability. Despite the prevalence, disability is structurally erased from public consciousness to this day. Thus, it is no surprise that even in academic spaces disability is frequently forgotten.

A Book Review: Bleed. Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care by Tracey Lindeman (2023)

by Sophie Wagner
“Have you ever been told that your pain is imaginary?”. With this provocative opening, the author, journalist and activist Tracey Lindeman, begins her debut book Bleed. Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care published by ECW Press, Canada in March 2023. Being told that one’s pain is imaginary probably signals one of the most reported injustices experienced by endometriosis (endo) patients during health care encounters.

Studying the experience of inequality and exclusion – Book review of Critical Phenomenology: An Introduction

by Veronica Fantini
Focus for one second on what you’re doing—reading, processing information, sitting, standing, or feeling something. What is so special about these thoughts or actions? They are unique because they are yours alone and can never be shared with someone in their entirety. We can describe what we are reading, where we are, or how we feel. However, we will never be able to communicate how we experience things.

Conversations with People I Love: On Complex(ed) Mother-Daughter Relationships

by Alejandra Jiménez Máñez
‘Conversations with People I Love’ emerged as an idea, a proposition to use active listening as a method of feminist reflection and analysis. In times in which everything seems to be fast-paced, in which scrolling through 6-second-long videos is enough to keep us entertained and information is one click away, listening has become one of the hardest skills to master. Through this series of columns, my objective is to come to terms with my listening skills as part of my daily feminist practices and activism.