In this thesis I investigate the role of Dutch policy makers and researchers during the United Nations Decade for women from 1975-1985 with the following research question: Why did Dutch...Show moreIn this thesis I investigate the role of Dutch policy makers and researchers during the United Nations Decade for women from 1975-1985 with the following research question: Why did Dutch development policy focused on women (WAD) experience progress and momentum during the UN Decade forWomen (1975-1985)? The theoretical framework consists of a history of ideas perspective combined with development cooperation theory. In order to track the development of Women and Development (WAD) paradigms over time I use a method combining archival research consisting of correspondence, policy papers, and official documents with interviews. I have interviewed ten individuals who all contributed significantly to the developments of the Decade. The stories of their lived experiences provide important interpretations of the Decade’s proceedings. Moreover, they have allowed for a new perspective on the Decade that stands in contrast to the dominant historiographical narrative on the subject. Using this framework I illustrate the significant progress achieved during the Decade and underline the contributions of Dutch women working in the WAD field. I explore the factors that led to their achieved momentum, including strong interpersonal relationships, their frontrunner role on the international stage, instances of support from individuals within the ministry, and individual finesse. Furthermore, I investigate the implementation of the policy. Specifically the reasons for the negative narrative that has been created around the outcomes ofWAD policy. Through the used perspective I show that there are unexplored angles of measuring implementation that provide a more positive view of the developments of the Decade. I also explore the role and perspectives of African women, by which I highlight perception of policy and further explore the outcomes of the policy formulated during the Decade. The research underlines the significant role of individual agency and national and intercontinental women’s networks in furthering WAD aims.Show less
This thesis sought to interpret what the main protagonist of Caramelo, or Puro Cuento critically interrogates, and to what extent her act breaks with dominant power structures, examining her view...Show moreThis thesis sought to interpret what the main protagonist of Caramelo, or Puro Cuento critically interrogates, and to what extent her act breaks with dominant power structures, examining her view on womanhood and sexuality compared to sexist archetypes. Notably, the tandem Celaya-Awful Grandmother forges a bond to deeply revisit societal sexism, showing that inside benevolent sexist ideals there is a subjacent willingness for a redefinition of womanhood and sexuality outside sexism. As a ghost, her Awful Grandmother Soledad embodies for Celaya the needed support to act upon and become her desired self: an independent, educated young woman. By choosing not to reproduce the hegemonic discourse around fairy-tale-like love stories, Celaya explicitly refers to telenovela narratives and her opportunity to choose which narrative –comedy or tragedy– she wants to be the protagonist of. This final reflection poses a firm suggestion on how telenovela narratives can mirror these redefinitions on womanhood and sexuality that populate Chicana feminist writingsShow less
This thesis explores the Attic custom of pederasty by applying gaze theory to passages from Socratic philosophy, vase-paintings and a selection of Greek novels. This allows for previously under...Show moreThis thesis explores the Attic custom of pederasty by applying gaze theory to passages from Socratic philosophy, vase-paintings and a selection of Greek novels. This allows for previously under-emphasized emotions and views to be studied, which reveals that the repeated scholarly focus on static active and passive roles between lover and beloved respectively is unjustified and restricting. Instead a trope is present in the sources where the impact that gazing upon a desired youth had could render a lover passive to his beauty: the beloved held (emotional) power over him through the spectacle he presents.Show less
