New publication: Unexpected complications in studying young girls
Fieldwork is not as easy as it appears. Making observations in an existing setting can be challenging; being in that setting for a prolonged period of time raises even more issues. How to balance commitment and distance? How to deal with your informants’ own agendas? What to do in case of conflict? Ervaren en ervaren worden: Opstellen over langdurig sociaalwetenschappelijke veldonderzoek [Experience and being experienced: Essays on prolonged socialscientific fieldwork] is an edited volume with twelve reflexive essays on the merits and hazards on fieldwork. In my contribution, I discuss the strategic and practical decisions I had to make during ethnographic research with young girls. I reflect on the complicated relationship between pupils, teachers and the academic reseracher.
The book can be ordered here.
Publicatiedatum: December 14, 2012
New publication: Coming to terms with sexualization
Not since the feminist pornography debates of the 1980s has there been such an outburst of discussion, research and publications about sexualized images of women and girls. The debate is now carried out by governments and other social actors, but to hail current attacks on sexualization as a belated victory for feminism is naive and problematic. Together with Liesbet van Zoonen, I wrote an article in which we contend that current sexualization policies involve academic analyses and political solutions which are cast in the discourse of liberal feminism and neoliberalism.
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Kom naar de boekpresentatie WTF?! Volwassen worden na 11 september
In 2001 was ik net afgestudeerd doctorandus in de politicologie. Om mijn geplande wereldreis te bekostigen werkte ik als receptioniste bij een accountskantoor aan het Vondelpark. In dat bastion van kapitalistische macht zag ik een vliegtuig de Twin Towers invliegen en dacht ik dat de Derde Wereldoorlog was uitgebroken. Toen de eerste paniek was gaan liggen, ging iedereen weer over tot de orde van de dag. De impact die de aanslagen hadden op Nederland kon ik toen als jonge sociaalwetenschapper niet overzien. Nu, tien jaar later en voorzien van een doctorsgraad, zie ik hoe na 9/11 het debat is verlamd.
Zo begint mijn bijdrage aan de bundel WTF?! Volwassen worden na 11 september. Onder redactie van Hassan Bahara en Patrick Pouw komen daarin 21 “uitgesproken” mensen aan het woord die vertellen hoe hun wereld is veranderd. In mijn essay schets ik aan de hand van drie anekdotes – over mijn vrienden, feministische wetenschappers en bloggers – hoe sinds 9/11 in het debat verschil onterecht en overdreven tot tegenstelling wordt gemaakt.
Het boek is vanaf vandaag verkrijgbaar. Op 11 september vindt er een boeklancering plaats, uiteraard mét debat, waar het ‘eerste exemplaar’ overhandigd wordt aan Tofik Dibi. Toegang is gratis, reserveren via reserveren@deunie.nu of 010-433 35 34.
Publicatiedatum: September 1, 2011Norms in girl culture
New publication out: ‘Kiezen om normaal te zijn: Normen en waarden in multiculturele meisjescultuur’, analysing the norms governing girls behaviour. It is in a special issue of Dutch language Pedagogiek on youth culture.
Publicatiedatum: May 13, 2010Between skipping rope and Eid ul-Fitr
New publication out: ‘Between skipping rope and Eid ul-Fitr: Everyday youth culture in 8th form’, investigating the relationship between context and content of youth culture. It is published in the new journal Quotidian: The Dutch journal for the study of everyday life and there is free online access here. Anstract is below.
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Popularisation of religion and culture
With some colleagues I worked on an edited volume on popularisation of religion and culture. The volume evaluates this phenomenon from a variety of disciplines using a variety of methods. I wrote three chapters: the introduction (co-authored with Marcel van den Haak), a chapter on the EO-Jongerendag, and a chapter on the discourse of sexualization (co-authored with Kristin van de Poel).
The book will be launched with a debate in Spui 25 on November 3, 2009 featuring Bert Brussen, Gawie Keyzer, Chris Aalberts and Anousha Nzume.
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Avoiding amnesia in girls’ studies
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New forthcoming publication! Liesbet van Zoonen and I are taking stock of girls’ studies in Feminist media studies, who are devoting a whole commentary & critique section to girls. An abstract is below, access is library limited.