Preparatory University Minor

Sexuality Studies is a discipline that investigates sexuality as a cultural, social and historical phenomenon. Sexuality is not perceived to be self-evidently biological; the meaning and understanding of sexuality is situated in time and place.  E.g. in the Western world, sexuality changed from a dangerous sin to a legitimate source of pleasure in the last two centuries. Sexuality Studies explores the processes in which sexuality is assigned an ever-changing meaning. We will look at the meaning of sexuality in a variety of cultural sources: media, movies, literature, but also in practices like science, medicine and psychology. The recurring questions are: What meaning does sexuality have in these cultural sources and practices? How does this impact the sexual behaviours, desires and emotions of individuals, their identity? How does it impact the actions of institutions like the government, political movements, the church?

The courses in the minor Cultural Sexuality Studies are multidisciplinary and join knowledges from the social sciences (anthropology, sociology, political science) and humanities (cultural studies, history, philosophy). This minor is taught in English and offers 21 EC of mandatory courses.

Why is there a debate about police officers wearing headscarves? Why do more men than women hold top positions? What groups in the Netherlands suffer from linguistic bias? What makes a university (ina)accessible? By inquiring into historical and present-day cultural formations of difference between people along lines of gender but also, for instance, race/ethnicity, religion, age, physical form and appearance, language, and sexuality, you further shape your own view on what the future of such differences might be. How do self-chosen and imposed identities relate to mechanisms of oppression such as ableism, classism, racism, and gender discrimination? How are they embedded in organisations, cultures, and languages? And what can we change about these mechanisms? 

This minor is taught in both Dutch and English and offers 20 EC of elective courses. 

In this minor, students will explore the social and cultural background of gender, sexuality and diversity, and the representation of these categories. We discuss from an intersectional and interdisciplinary perspective how differences, like femininity, masculinity, ethnicity and sexuality are understood, and how different conceptions will have different results.

This minor is taught in Dutch and consists of mandatory courses. 

In this minor, students will explore the social and cultural background of gender, sexuality and diversity, and the representation of these categories. We discuss from an intersectional and interdisciplinary perspective how differences, like femininity, masculinity, ethnicity and sexuality are understood, and how different conceptions will have different results.

This minor has Dutch and English taught courses and consists of mandatory courses and a choice from elective courses.