Radboud Gender & Diversity Studies

Interdisciplinary collaboration and cooperation

Radboud Gender & Diversity Studies (Radboud GDS) connects researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds, with different perspectives and methods. Our aim is to enable collaboration and work together on understanding complex contemporary societal issues. Interdisciplinary cooperation generates discipline transcending knowledge which is vital for analyzing larger societal challenges. Examples are, the development of culturally sensitive care (Medical Science, Pedagogy and Organizational Science), growing migration and ethnic diversity in Europe (Human Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, History), growing religious diversity (Religious Studies, Theology, Philosophy, Anthropology, Sociology), societal acceptance of same sex marriage (Sexuality Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Cultural Studies) and the underrepresentation of women and ethnic minorities in top positions in society (Business Administration, Psychology, Sociology, History).

Radboud GDS is a collaboration between existing and prospective Gender & Diversity expert groups at different faculties. The network aims to connect researchers who are involved in Gender & Diversity and enable collaboration. Each faculty organizes a Gender & Diversity expert group in which joint subjects are analyzed. At each faculty a colleague is the central contact person who works together closely with the network chair prof. dr. Marieke van den Brink. Research proposals, education and other activities are made visible to the entire network this way.

Participating faculties:

• Faculty of Arts
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• Faculty of Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies
• Faculty of Social Sciences
• Nijmegen School of Management

Mission statement

Radboud GDS aims to develop and share theories and methods to research constructions and perceptions of the relations between women, men and other gender identities in different societal and academic domains. Emphasis is brought to the correlation of gender with other forms of diversity, such as ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, world-view and disability: the intersectional perspective. These social categories are not seen as ‘given’ but as susceptible to change under cultural, societal and historical (power)processes.

Gender & Diversity Studies offers insight into how difference is socially and culturally constructed and susceptible to change, and poses questions to the background and consequences of the creation of difference. Besides gaining knowledge, Radboud GDS also stimulates the development of new (interdisciplinary) education programs in the area of gender and diversity at different faculties as well as committing to the continuance of existing programs.