Tijdschrift voor Genderstudies - Volume 18, Issue 1, 2015

Abstract The Velvet Triangle is a heuristic concept designed to describe interactions between policy makers and politicians, feminist academics and experts, and the women’s movement in European Union policy making. This article describes how the concept has travelled from its 2003 origins as a descriptor of informal relations in poli making to become a way of describing policy networks in settings beyond gender equality policy. Read More

Abstract Joke Swiebel comments on Alison Woodward’s essay ‘Travels, triangles and transformations’. The demise of European equality policy, she argues, might first and foremost be caused by the inability or the unwillingness of key players to play by the rules of the Union. Commissioners espousing issues on terrains where the European Union has no jurisdiction waste precious time and goodwill. The European Women’s Lo Read More

Abstract Margit van der Steen comments on Alison Woodward’s article “Travels, triangles and transformations”. Woodward’s reflections, she argues, would benefit from defining concepts more precisely. She also argues for a more in-depth analysis of the historical and political situation in which the triangle in the EU originated. Especially the early activities of the United Nations should be taken into consideration, as well as Read More

Abstract Dynamics of belonging and exclusion and the notion of being ‘in-between’ are common in dominant discourse regarding sexuality and Christianity in Dutch society. Homosexuality and Christianity are considered as incompatible, with religious homosexuals moving in between religiosity and sexuality. This dominant discourse in both media and academia mainly focuses on homosexual men. As a consequence, t Read More

Abstract This article explores the early Christian symbol of theosis or deification for its potential to generate an inspiring, gender-bending, and transformative view of salvation. The idea of theosis or deification (literally: becoming divine) is present in many religious traditions. In early Christianity, it refers to the transformation of human beings effected by Christ and the way they become partakers in the divine life. As Read More

Abstract Since a few years egg freezing (or human oocyte cryopreservation) is available in The Netherlands for women without a medical indication. Egg freezing provides women with more time to have children. Possibly this serves a meaningful emancipatory goal. In both public and scientific debate most arguments concern the question whether or not egg freezing should be permitted and on what (ethical/medical) Read More