From Denmark to Nijmegen
Utoft began her academic career in Denmark, studying Business Communication. During her Master’s programme in Human Resources, she developed her interest in qualitative research methods, such as interviews. Utoft explains how a role model helped her process: ‘During my Master’s, I had classes taught by an inspirational teacher. The teacher was a younger woman, which extended my views about what it means to be a researcher. She showed me that someone of my age and gender could be a researcher too.’ Utoft went on to finish a PhD in another part of Denmark and is currently part of the Gender and Diversity department at the Faculty of Social Sciences. As Utoft poses that she ‘made a career out of critiquing academia’, she does not shy away from analysing the university context from a feminist standpoint: ‘I am interested in people’s experiences and emotions. In my research, I am mostly fascinated by how it feels to be in a certain role. For that reason, I enjoy hearing different perspectives and, sometimes, critical feedback on the system.’
What does it mean to be a woman in science?
‘As a researcher, I draw from my own experiences, which is deeply personal and, at times, vulnerable’, Utoft explains. Not only the topics she examines but also the methods she uses are uncommon in most mainstream fields and disciplines. Utoft sees a parallel: ‘Just as society has hierarchical structures, so does the academic world. Academia remains a masculine-dominated environment, in which a positivist view on scientific quality is widespread. In other words: most people see quantitative data, such as questionnaires, as more reliable and objective, compared to qualitative data, like interviews. I hope to expose different manifestations of inequality in academia, especially topics that currently do not receive the deserved attention, such as social safety at universities.’ Utoft stresses an important note: ‘I cannot speak on behalf of all women, obviously. As I am cis-gendered and white, I experience being a woman from a privileged position. However, as an internationally mobile scholar, I am also a migrant. Intersectionality means how different parts of identity, like gender, race, and migration, combine to shape experiences. In other words, women’s varied experiences of being women in science are shaped by intersectionality.’
Postfeminist perspective
A key feature of Utoft’s research is her postfeminist perspective: ‘Many people assume gender equality has already been achieved. For example, TV shows often portray financially independent, sexually active women, creating the illusion that inequality no longer exists. As a result, feminism may seem “irrelevant”. However, postfeminist theory challenges this belief, highlighting the ongoing need for change, not only on TV shows, but also in “real life”.’ Utoft advocates for greater openness to plurality in people, methodologies, and research questions. Through her work, Utoft hopes to shed light on overlooked experiences and contribute, even in a small way, to building a more inclusive and diverse academic environment.