Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis embarks on a journey of birthing women in the Netherlands and their experiences with the contentious and divided birthing system that claims to be women centred. The thesis carries on to
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This ethnographic research takes an in-depth look at the identities of refugees (and other border-crossers), refugee communities and politics of belonging. Through the ethnographic method of...Show moreThis ethnographic research takes an in-depth look at the identities of refugees (and other border-crossers), refugee communities and politics of belonging. Through the ethnographic method of narrative approach, it explores the perceptions of refugees on their identity, communities and work and shows how these affect and are affected by politics of belonging. Using ethnographic methods of participant observation and informal interviews in the geographic area of Athens and Piraeus, Greece, I explore contested refugee narratives about refugee identity, refugee communities and work. I use “refugee communities” and “work”, as the main lens through which to discuss what protects, supports or helps them outside and aside of the humanitarian and the asylum system. I discuss the terms of “refugee” and “refugee community”, showing the complex ways people and theory make sense of them. The main argument of my analysis is that, dealing with the so called “refugee crisis”, also means examining our perceptions on the contested narratives around refugee identities and making the choice to “stay close” to people, who already make up part of our societies.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This thesis is a visual and reflexive auto-ethnographic exploration of the meaning of happiness on Curaçao. Through in-depth interviews and go-alongs, the researcher investigates how personal...Show moreThis thesis is a visual and reflexive auto-ethnographic exploration of the meaning of happiness on Curaçao. Through in-depth interviews and go-alongs, the researcher investigates how personal experience, social relationships, and cultural context intersect and shape individual conceptions and experiences of happiness. Additionally, by means of an auto-ethnographic diary the researcher reflects on how she emerged herself in and reflected on her interlocutors’ approaches to finding this happiness. The thesis also includes an audiovisual component which functions as a complimentary constitute to introduce the viewer to the researcher and interlocutors. In this film, the most significant part of each interview in accordance with the research question is depicted, as well as auto-ethnographic reflections of the researcher before and after her fieldwork period. The interviews revealed a triad of concepts - setting, values and mindset - as central to the life philosophies and conceptions of happiness among the interlocutors. The main auto- ethnographic findings from the diary are that the researcher has gradually started to value more eudemonic forms of happiness during her fieldwork. However, the limited auto-ethnographic data available from the research diary hampers considerably the ability to develop more comprehensive anthropological insights. Lastly, the researcher concludes with a methodological argumentation on the significance of using auto-ethnography as a relevant method for researching happiness, and reflects on the strengths and pitfalls of her own execution in this approach.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This thesis researches the sense of belonging among Christian Chinese first-generation female migrants living in The Hague. The study explores how these women present and produce a sense of...Show moreThis thesis researches the sense of belonging among Christian Chinese first-generation female migrants living in The Hague. The study explores how these women present and produce a sense of belonging in the intercultural context of migration and religion. I reflect on the large issues of migration and belonging, as well as employ an anthropological perspective to highlight the issues of importance in this marginalized niche. I illustrate the complexity, transcendence, and dynamics of these women’s processes of presenting and producing different dimensions of belonging. I, thereby, employ anthropologist Gammeltoft’analytical models of belonging and quantitative research methods, such as interviews and participant observation, through case studies conducted with twelve women. The novelty lies in adding a theological anthropological perspective to existing studies of migration and belonging. The addition of the theology aspect enriches and deepens our understanding and perception of the related research topic.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This thesis delves into the socio-spatial reality of a so-called ‘’Fablab’’ – short for fabrication laboratory- in Amsterdam. The Fablab is a workplace that facilitates open-source maker practices...Show moreThis thesis delves into the socio-spatial reality of a so-called ‘’Fablab’’ – short for fabrication laboratory- in Amsterdam. The Fablab is a workplace that facilitates open-source maker practices and education in efforts to demystify digital fabrication tools and machines such as 3D printers and laser cutters. Each of the three main arguments of this research touch upon knowledge production practices at the Fablab at different levels of analysis. First, at the level of the individual, this thesis describes sense-making activities through embodied making. In the fashion of the ''gewoon doen'' [ENG: ''just doing it''] mindset, makers are induced to involve their bodies in the maker process. Second, the open-source values of the Fablab are embedded in the open-ended layout of the space. Likewise, the socio-spatial set-up of the Fablab constitutes joint-making practices, resulting in collaborative knowledge. Third, situating the Fablab in relation to the other maker spaces at Waag allows for the investigation of inter-lab exchanges of knowledge. The spatial intimacy and open attitude of the makers present at Waag result in the interdisciplinary coming together of information. Altogether, this research attempts to tackle the question of how the socio-spatial situation of the Fablab shapes the production and coming together of embodied knowledge.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This thesis explores the presentation of digital identity within a digital social space through a two-month case study of practices on a platform that has not yet been extensively researched, and...Show moreThis thesis explores the presentation of digital identity within a digital social space through a two-month case study of practices on a platform that has not yet been extensively researched, and furthermore, that has been subject to incredible growth in the past few years, Twitch. By analyzing the way the audience presents itself within the chat, and furthermore, by asking viewers directly about their experience and practices within the chat of several different live streaming channels, this thesis looks at how we can understand the phenomenon of how people present themselves and experience their identity within this setting, by showing how perceptions, strategies, and challenges of viewers influence this process.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
This multimodal thesis applies a phenomenological approach towards singing gospel music as lived religious practice in a contemporary and post-colonial Latin-American context. The research...Show moreThis multimodal thesis applies a phenomenological approach towards singing gospel music as lived religious practice in a contemporary and post-colonial Latin-American context. The research addresses the lived experiences of Afro-Surinamese vocalists part of the Maranatha Choir Community, performing gospel music as part of their everyday religious lives in Paramaribo, Suriname. The article shows how different generations of choral vocalists shape and negotiate performances of gospel music, embedded in the socioreligious and postcolonial context of contemporary Paramaribo. Through studying discourse and embodied performances, I encountered intergenerational tensions and dialogue regarding the use of voice in religious singing practices. The ethnographic film provides a sensory experience, showing how each choir constructs its own vocal sound and socio-religious space. Narrated from the perspective of youth, the film highlights how young vocalists negotiate religious music traditions and modern pop culture, giving new meanings to everyday life religion and making songs their own.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
The thesis discusses the role of vulnerable households in the energy transition. These households do not have the resources and are at risk of energy poverty, yet they often live in houses that...Show moreThe thesis discusses the role of vulnerable households in the energy transition. These households do not have the resources and are at risk of energy poverty, yet they often live in houses that need the most investments. This thesis looks at this dilemma up close, asking how responsibility for the energy transition is parsed, and what kind of misfits and frictions this creates.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This thesis explores how moral and ethical ideas are translated into how actors are designing or contesting future spatial development of the Nieuwe Waterweg, contributing to our understanding of...Show moreThis thesis explores how moral and ethical ideas are translated into how actors are designing or contesting future spatial development of the Nieuwe Waterweg, contributing to our understanding of why it is hard to change the logics embedded in these systems. Based on recent anthropological studies and the data gathered in this research, I hypothesise that part of the reason other proposals for the Nieuwe Waterweg's future are disregarded is not only simply clashing ideas of what function actors believe the Nieuwe Waterweg should prioritise. Rather, it is the different ideologies about just relations between human and nonhuman actors that cause conflicting ideas about how environments should be organised and why (Larkin 2013; Scaramelli 2019; Star & Ruhleder 1996). Despite the disagreements over the political functions of the Nieuwe Waterweg, all actors alike praise the symbolic, poetic value it serves (Larkin 2013). Its international reputation on port activities, association with water safety and overall symbol of innovativeness could once again be the key to contest the current logics and systems and convince policy makers of ones more sustainable and suitable for the future.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
The research focuses on the execution of the policy program called Resilient Bospolder/Tussendijken 2028. The main aims of this policy are to reduce CO2 emissions and to improve the quality of life...Show moreThe research focuses on the execution of the policy program called Resilient Bospolder/Tussendijken 2028. The main aims of this policy are to reduce CO2 emissions and to improve the quality of life in called Bospolder/Tussnedijken. Frequently referred to simply as BoTu, this neighborhood in Rotterdam is often presented as having higher than average poverty rates. In this study, I will try to understand how the two mentioned sets of goals combine under the term resilience. I will do that by focusing on the implementation of the program and the way residents of BoTu experience it. The concepts of citizenship and energy ethics will be crucial for my research. I will discuss debates surrounding these concepts and try to build upon them. With this, I will try to also contribute to academic debates about policy implementation, citizenship, and energy ethics. I will also touch upon the concept of resilience and temporalities concerning policy projects. The first will help me understand resilient projects in general, while the second will be beneficial for conceptualizing findings in my field. This study is based on my fieldwork in BoTu from January 2022 to early April 2022. It was conducted as part of Port City Futures research program and in collaboration with Veld Academie. The latter is an organization tasked by the municipality of BoTu to monitor the development of the resilience program.Show less
