 Gender equality is an ongoing struggle, and there is still a long way to go to achieve full equality of rights and opportunities between men and women. In the meantime, a newmovement against gender equality is gaining traction in Europe, weakening democracies.

This is a quote from the EU-funded project Push*Back*Lash towants to develop sustainable solutions, bringing together gender activists, EU experts and researchers from several fields such as political science, anthropology, communication and media, philosophy, sociology and social psychology.

Liza Mügge Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam is part of this project and she is going to tell us everything about the backlash and the pushback.

Links:

Website Push*Back*Lash: https://pushbacklash.eu/

Project website MEN4DEM: men4dem.eu [https://men4dem.eu/]

Cartoons: https://politicsofdiversity.eu/news-media/news/push-back-lash-cartoon-series-digital-violence



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Photo Credits: Daan Quittner (@d.q.media)

94: Solutions For The Backlash Against Feminism- Liza Mügge

Growing up in a loving, caring and nurturing environment,created by our own family and our own parents, that should be the default for every child. But sometimes, this is just not possible, for various reasons. This is usually, when a government office for youth welfare and child protection interferes and when the foster system comes into play.

Aarathy Balasingam has lived with a foster family for the larger part of her childhood and she has decided to make a film about her experience, to raise awareness for what it is like to grow up this way.



Links:

LinkedIn Aarathy Balasingam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aarathy-balasingam/

Crowdfunding: https://www.voordekunst.nl/projecten/18595-alleenkind-hku-afstudeerfilm

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93: Growing Up As A Foster Child - Aarathy Balasingam

The city of Amsterdam welcomes more than 10 million touristsevery year, offering hop on hop off busses, boat trips and sightseeing tours. Those walking tours focus on the red light district, food, street art, jewish life etc etc etc. And how many of them focus on women? Yeah, not as many. But Martine Bontjes wanted to change that and today she is going to tell us moreabout her Women of Amsterdam.

Links:

Women of Amsterdam website: https://womenofamsterdam.net/

Women of Amsterdam Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/women.of.amsterdam/

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92: Women Of Amsterdam Tour - Martine Bontjes

Today is the 8th of March, international women’s day and we’re diving into a conversation that couldn’t be more important—consent.

Joining me is Claudia Dictus, founder of Our Bodies OurVoice, an organization dedicated to sexual violence prevention and education. We’ll explore what consent really means, how we can create a culture of respect and empowerment, and why open conversations about boundaries are key.

So, let’s get into it—because consent isn’t just a one-time‘yes’ or ‘no,’ it’s a conversation we all need to have.
Please note: During this episode, we will be adressing topics as sexual assault, sexual violence and the objectification of female bodies. In case you do not feel safe with these topics, please consider skipping this episode or listening with someone who can support you.

Info:

For the volunteer position please email ourbodies.ourvoice@gmail.com with 'Volunteer' in the subject of the message

Links:

Our bodies our voice website: https://www.ourbodies-ourvoice.com/

Our bodies our voice Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ourbodies.ourvoice

Centrum Seksueel Geweld website: https://centrumseksueelgeweld.nl/

Centrum Seksueel Geweld hotline & chat: 0800 - 0188 (free of charge and anonymous)



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https://www.ourbodies-ourvoice.com/resources

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/337580400_Our_Bodies_Our_Voice

https://conceptually.org/concepts/overton-window

91: Our Bodies Our Voice: Consent Workshops – Claudia Dictus

Losing a beloved one is probably one of the worst things that can happen to all of us. Having to deal with death in our close proximity is a fear that probably unites all of us.

And in such a moment that we all rather like to keep away from us, as far as possible, Liza Berenfeld managed to find beauty. In death, she has found her calling.

Liza Berenfeld is a death doula and today, she is going to tell us more about her very special profession.



Instagram Death Doula Den Haag: https://www.instagram.com/death_doula_den_haag

LinkedIn Death Doula Liza Berenfeld: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liza-berenfeld-a43342a

Workshop Natural Health Centre: https://www.thehague-naturalhealthcentre.com/events



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90: Death Doula And Death Positivity Activist - Liza Berenfeld

Have you ever heard of something called hypersensitivity, high sensitivity and an HSP?

It refers to a certain way how the brain works and how people experience the world, but - as there is still not a lot of knowledge about it - many HSPs probably don't even know that they have it.

Esther Bergsma - and myself as well - are HSP. Highly sensitive people. And we also didn't know it for the largest part of our lives.

In this episode, we are talking about what hypersensitivity is, what it feels like to be a highly sensitive person and why we sometimes feel like the world is really not made for people like us.



Esther Bergsma website: https://hoogsensitief.nl/

English blogs: https://hoogsensitief.nl/category/english-blogs/

 

Summary of Esther's international research on HSP at work places in English: https://hoogsensitief.nl/hsp-and-burnout-international-research/

 

Her English book The Brain of the Highly Sensitive Person can be ordered via Amazon and as an ebook on her own website.

In this blog post you can find more information on the highly sensitive brain: https://hoogsensitief.nl/the-highly-sensitive-brain/

Based on scientific insights, Esther Bergsma developed a model that offers tools to professionals in healthcare, education and to therapists and coaches who want to learn more about high sensitivity. Her goal: that everyone – and especially the highly sensitive person – has a better understanding and appreciation for this quality. High sensitivity offers unprecedented talents that only become apparent when we understand high sensitivity and create the optimal environment for HSP’s.

 

Her Dutch books can be ordered here: https://hoogsensitief.nl/bestel/

 

Please find here the HSP test by Esther Bergsman (only in Dutch): https://hoogsensitief.nl/test/

English test by Elaine Aron: https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/



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89: Being Highly Sensitive Is A Superpower - Esther Bergsma

How often have you used your smartphone or any other mobile device today already? Minutes, hours? Do you even know? When was the last time you were completely offline and disconnected from the digital world?

Exactly … to be honest, I cannot remember either. So, maybe it is time to take a break?

This is exactly what the offline club wants to achieve. Silvia Mota is a host of the offline club events and she is going to tell us everything there is to know.



The Offline Club Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoffline_club/

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88: The Magic Of Being Offline - Sílvia Mota

The world of martial arts is not very welcoming for women. It can be very intimidating to go to a place full of men who punch each other. This is why, girls or women often shy away from this category of sports. Which is very unfortunate, because boxing, kickboxing or any kind of martial art can be fun, empowering and a great workout for your body and mind.

Safe spaces for women to practice martial arts are rare. But now, there is Knockout Ladies in The Hague.



Knockout Ladies Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knockoutladies/

Move to heal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/move_to_heal/



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87: Healing Through Boxing - Dieiny Crestani

In this podcast, we talk a lot about gender equality, empowerment and gender norms. But of course, we cannot look at feminism without also looking at masculinity. Or rather toxic masculinity, which affects all of us, regardless of our gender.

And to dismantle harmful gender norm sit is also crucial to bring men on bord with us. Which is why, today, we also have a man as a guest on this podcast.

Edward van der Vliet and Iline Ceelen are both involved with a Dutch organisation called emancipator that wants to change our society’s ideas of men and masculinity.

Website Emancipator: https://www.emancipator.nl/

LinkedIn Iline Ceelen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iline-ceelen-796b20b5/



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86: Emancipation For Men - Iline Ceelen & Edward van der Vliet

Remember what it was like for you when you came to the Netherlands? When you had to get settled and needed to find a job? For some of us it is rather easy, for others it is really hard. For migrants who are not familiar with the Dutch or any European labour market there are many challenges to face. Often they apply and apply but only receive rejections without knowing the reason.

Shea Harty is the founder of Empowerment foundation that strives to empower people to change their circumstances from surviving to thriving.



Website Empowerment Foundation: https://empowermentfoundation.work/

LinkedIn Empowerment Foundation: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mpwrmt/

LinkedIn Shea Harty: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheaharty/

Instagram Empowerment Foundation: https://www.instagram.com/mpwrmnt_/



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85: Supporting Unemployed Immigrants - Shea Harty

With each episode, you will get introduced to an amazing woman from Amsterdam.
You will get to know more about her work, her art, her activism and her life
story. Instagram: @amsterdamespodcast Facebook: AmsterDamesPodcast

AmsterDames: Inspiring Women in the Netherlands ... An English Feminist Podcast in Amsterdam