Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Somalis have been engaging in national and transnational migration for centuries. In the past, their relocation has often been fuelled by pastoralism and trade and later, more forcefully, by civil...Show moreSomalis have been engaging in national and transnational migration for centuries. In the past, their relocation has often been fuelled by pastoralism and trade and later, more forcefully, by civil war. In more recent times, imaginaries about destination countries seem to be shaping the mobilities of Somalis in the diaspora. In the context of the massive onward migration of Somalis from the Netherlands to England around the year 2000, this thesis attempted to gain insight into Somalis’ imaginaries about future destinations through semi-structured interviews and participant observation. Special attention was paid to content and sources of imaginaries, and to differences along the lines of gender and generations. The data was analysed through coding and through an anthropological and psychological lens. Results indicate that imaginaries mostly revolve around England and Somalia, although actual plans for migration only exist towards Somalia. While in the past imaginaries were mostly formed based on oral information, today social media and personal country visits are creating more nuanced imaginaries. Furthermore, compared to the first generation, younger Somalis are more cautious in forming positive imaginaries about destination countries. Future research should include educational background and observe how transnational migration trends among the Somali community in the Netherlands take shape across generations and in the future.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Diversity and inclusion in the work environment are nowadays widely presented as solutions for enduring social issues. Various examples however show that it turns out to be very difficult for...Show moreDiversity and inclusion in the work environment are nowadays widely presented as solutions for enduring social issues. Various examples however show that it turns out to be very difficult for organizations to work on diversity and inclusion and to make it function as a solution for certain social issues within organizations. This thesis studies the implementation of a diversity and inclusion program in a department of the municipality of Amsterdam. My study indicates three main challenges that have to do with the framing of diversity and inclusion programs, the aim of diversity management, and the multivocality of the terms used. These challenges make it particularly difficult to implement such diversity and inclusion programs and foreground issues that can accompany diversity and inclusion programs.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
This article addresses the way LGBTQ+ athletes use sport as a tool for resilience. Preliminary research on resilience through sport focuses on sport as a pre-facilitated space, intentionally...Show moreThis article addresses the way LGBTQ+ athletes use sport as a tool for resilience. Preliminary research on resilience through sport focuses on sport as a pre-facilitated space, intentionally created for resilience building, rather than sport as a regular space but used by the athlete as an independent tool for resilience without interference by external organizations. This research explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ athletes in sport by conducting visual ethnographic research, keeping the social ecology theory in mind. This article reflects on how the process of fieldwork has changed the course of this research, and how audio-visual methods and making a film have led to these changes, thereby providing new insights regarding sport as a tool for resilience.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Indonesia is one of the countries vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to its geography. Climate change has threatened the agriculture industry and the country’s ability for food security...Show moreIndonesia is one of the countries vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to its geography. Climate change has threatened the agriculture industry and the country’s ability for food security which can be a severe problem in the future. However, there are problems with how the government of Indonesia is trying to manage the impact of climate change on agriculture, especially on rice paddy farming, due to the impacts of the past neo-liberal policy (the green revolution) and challenges within the political reformation after the downfall of the Soeharto regime. In this thesis, I am trying to explore the implications and the causes of agricultural and climate issues management problems in Indramayu, Indonesia, by utilizing Aryo Danusiri’s (2018) visual methods of menjaring (trawling) and berburu (hunting). In understanding the implications, I was using the trawling method where I argue that climate change and agricultural management problems in Indonesia are creating a precarious situation for the rice paddy farmers, in line with Anna Tsing’s (2015: 20) statement of precarity being the condition of our time. Lastly, I was using the hunting method where I found out that ‘sectoral ego’ problems within the government and aggressive neo-liberal politics as one of the major causes.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
How important is getting the perfect shot? And what must make way for this? I use experiences from an ethnographic research period in an area threatened by climate change to argue how audiovisual...Show moreHow important is getting the perfect shot? And what must make way for this? I use experiences from an ethnographic research period in an area threatened by climate change to argue how audiovisual methodologies may reduce researchers' feelings of empathy towards participants. This paper elaborates on diverse literature to demonstrate how both empathy and aesthetics can be of great importance when performing ethnographic research, and real-life examples to show how these concepts relate to eachother during fieldwork. Although this paper focuses specifically on the implications of audiovisual methodologies on me as a researcher, similar ideas may apply to anyone researching people in precarious situations. I have found that seeking empathy and prioritizing aesthetics can coincide with the help of collaborative creativity, on which I elaborate in the final chapter.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Every country has its own history, every community its own culture, every family its own story. This is an ethnography, studying the mundane, everyday life of Mayan parent in Guatemalan communities...Show moreEvery country has its own history, every community its own culture, every family its own story. This is an ethnography, studying the mundane, everyday life of Mayan parent in Guatemalan communities around Lake Atitlan. Guatemala is one of the few countries in the world, where indigenous people make up for half of the population. Although they are marginalized politically, socially, and culturally in the Guatemalan context, there is a strength in numbers. Vibrant indigenous communities pass on values, customs, and language onto the next generations. These communities became even more empowered because of a revival of Mayan consciousness after the signing of the peace accords after a 40 year civil war. This study attempts to create insight how Mayan communities parent and reproduce values and customs and over generations, but also how they meet the challenges of a globalizing world. The body of anthropological knowledge on parenting and the role of children in society is steadily growing. Even though it is important to learn from traditional rural communities, it is also very important to understand how people adapt to changing realities, while preserving indigeneity.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
closed access
The basis of this thesis is the Leids Preventieakkoord, a health policy derived from the Nationaal Preventieakkoord and tailored to the local context of the city of Leiden. In this research I...Show moreThe basis of this thesis is the Leids Preventieakkoord, a health policy derived from the Nationaal Preventieakkoord and tailored to the local context of the city of Leiden. In this research I examine how the Leids Preventieakkoord on paper matches its implementation, emphasizing the difficulty of involving residents in the process but the attempts of the Regiegroep, i.e. the group of people responsible for the implementation of the health policy, to minimize the often occurring gap in a top-down approach. Furthermore, this research shows how the perspectives of the Regiegroep correspond and differ from the perspectives of residents of Leiden Noord on the topics of health, weight and food. While both parties try to broaden the definition of health in general in the sense of positive health, namely that one is healthy when being able to do whatever he or she finds important, their perspectives on the meaning of healthy 'weight' and 'food' remain rather narrow and are more in line with the medical approach, namely the absence of physical and mental diseases. In addition, the thesis differentiates residents' perspectives on healthy weight and food based on gender and ethnicity. The Leids Preventieakkoord is made only from a Dutch ethnic perspective, taking the body mass index tool and 'Schijf van Vijf' as the absolute truth of a healthy weight and eating pattern. Although many people argue that food connects people, this thesis show how the different perspectives and critiques on health and food reflect the polarisation today in Leiden Noord.Show less
Master thesis | Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (MSc)
open access
Community music is a way of making music within a group of people, by letting everyone participate in the process in their unique way. Sounds of Change uses community music in order to establish...Show moreCommunity music is a way of making music within a group of people, by letting everyone participate in the process in their unique way. Sounds of Change uses community music in order to establish social change in refugee centres. But how do they use social change in order to pursue social change and what social change are they seeking for? This study explores the effects of community music on children in Dutch refugee centres. After conducting semi-structured interviews and participant observation, I suggest that, in order to establish a sense of communal belonging, creativity and connection among the participants of the workshops, a safe space is required. Whenever children feel safe, they dare to share their ideas. A common language is not required for this; music can often speak for itself. Moreover, Sounds of Change equalizes all individuals and embraces cultural diversity, which is considered more common in grassroots and pragmatic practices than in national Dutch multicultural policies.Show less
