On gender, diversity, and feminism
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.
By Femke Boom I often find myself thinking about The L-Word, and I wonder how many LGBT+ people still remember … More
Book review by Femke Boom The book of the month this time is Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. Isherwood is one … More
Book review by Femke Boom “I think you should write about the one that scares you the most. Taking risks … More
This article is a short analysis of the use of colors in the Oscar winning film Get Out from 2017 directed by Jordan Peele. The deeper meaning of this film is hidden underneath a layer of colors that, when analyzed critically, work so well to expose the contemporary American racism and race relations.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a historical novel written by Taylor Jenkins Reid. It is a fictive biography of a Hollywood actress, which is set in the 1950s. There is an almost tangible tension between the ‘50s mind-set and sexuality, as well as feminism. The story is partially depicted in modern times with flashbacks to the ‘50s-‘90s as the actress tells her story.
A delightful duology: ‘Vicious’ and ‘Vengeful’ by V.E. Schwab. Both books play with the question as to what morality really is, and they show that the concept of good and evil is not as black and white as we tend to believe.
It is a straightforward, yet ambiguous title in an age wherein the subject of gender triggers so much controversy. However, it is exactly this discrepancy between an idea of gender and the reality of gender what this film tries to address.
For almost 40 years, the yearly Dutch children’s TV special “Kinderen voor Kinderen” is known for its progressive songs. Its lyrics cover a wide range of topics, including gender and sexual diversity, cultural diversity and migration, disabilities and body positivity.
Now the days have become darker and shorter, Sinterklaas and his friends, the so-called Zwarte Pieten or ‘Black Petes’, have travelled to the Netherlands. Besides gifts and sweets, they bring something else that has become traditional over time: a passionate and vehement debate on the alleged racism of the very phenomenon of Black Pete. The book White Innocence. Paradoxes of Colonialism and Race, written by emeritus professor of Gender and Ethnicity Gloria Wekker, is a valuable companion in the many inevitable discussions on Dutch racism to come.
Raffia 