Van liefdadigheid naar abortusstrijd: Leidse vrouwen en de Nederlandse vrouwenbeweging van 1860 tot 1990

Doctoral Thesis

Until now the Dutch women’s movement was mostly studied for a short period or in a single aspect, like one organisation. The choice for Leiden, a middle size Dutch town, made it possible to study the women’s movement as a whole over a long period of 130 years. This period included the so-called first feminist wave, with women’s suffrage as most prominent issue and the second with the abortion right movement as focus point, including the period in between. I analysed the wave movement that proved to be different for different organisations and showed an extra upheaval, a wave, in the 1930s. I also studied the relation of the women’s movement with – in the beginning - charitable women’s organisations, with other social movements, like the peace movement, and with political parties. The choice for Leiden also made it possible to go deeper into the background of the women (and men) involved in the women’s movement. The University proved to be a constant supplier of women for the...Show moreUntil now the Dutch women’s movement was mostly studied for a short period or in a single aspect, like one organisation. The choice for Leiden, a middle size Dutch town, made it possible to study the women’s movement as a whole over a long period of 130 years. This period included the so-called first feminist wave, with women’s suffrage as most prominent issue and the second with the abortion right movement as focus point, including the period in between. I analysed the wave movement that proved to be different for different organisations and showed an extra upheaval, a wave, in the 1930s. I also studied the relation of the women’s movement with – in the beginning - charitable women’s organisations, with other social movements, like the peace movement, and with political parties. The choice for Leiden also made it possible to go deeper into the background of the women (and men) involved in the women’s movement. The University proved to be a constant supplier of women for the women’s movement.
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Women's liberation movement

Women's suffrage

Legalisation of abortion

Leiden women active in the public sphere

First feminist wave

Second feminist wave

Charitable women's organisations

(Women's) peace movement

(New) social movements