{"id":149282,"date":"2023-01-26T16:38:46","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T15:38:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=149282"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:37","slug":"margot-sees-pinkwashing-a-lot-of-blah-and-not-much-effort-for-more-inclusion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/01\/26\/margot-sees-pinkwashing-a-lot-of-blah-and-not-much-effort-for-more-inclusion\/","title":{"rendered":"Margot sees pinkwashing, \u2018a lot of blah\u2019 and not much effort for more inclusion"},"content":{"rendered":"

“A crass example of pinkwashing”, is how Margot Kersing views the rainbow zebra crossing. Being addressed correctly, gender-neutral toilets, these are things that would help them feel more at home. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of blah, but little action\u201d, says the PhD candidate from the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management.<\/p>\n

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'There is a lot of blah, little action', says Margot Kersing on inclusion at university.<\/span><\/p>

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\u201cDuring the selection interview they started laughing. In other selection interviews I was asked about possible operations that I as a non-binary trans person might have undergone, instead of content-related questions. That\u2019s where I draw the line. These were selection interviews at universities, at other educational institutions or consulting firms. After graduating, I was unemployed for a year and a half and then I worked as a cleaner for a while. During the application procedure for my PhD position, I looked up the university. I read that a spokesperson had said that the university had \u2018only received a few signals<\/a>\u2019 about a need for gender-neutral toilets. I\u2019d heard further negative stories, too. So I asked myself: do I really want to work there? Luckily, the interview was really nice, also after I\u2019d inquired some more to see if I would feel safe. I\u2019ve been working here for almost two years now. I really value my direct colleagues and department.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018Look at the rainbow crosswalk, or gay zebra crossing \u2013 that\u2019s a crass example of pinkwashing\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cThis doesn\u2019t mean that I feel at home at this university. It\u2019s not diverse or inclusive here. Look at the rainbow crosswalk, or gay zebra crossing \u2013 that\u2019s a crass example of pinkwashing. The university wants to give the impression that they\u2019re open to everyone, well, I don\u2019t notice much of that. The university\u2019s diversity website contains faults in explaining the terms sex and gender. They actually have no idea what they are talking about. This week I got an email from the exam board, it says \u2018Ms Kersing\u2019 above it. The target figure for diversity among professors is formulated only for women. When surveys are conducted here, people often get asked: are you a man or a woman? Even if this fact is completely irrelevant. Researchers need to think about the impact of their work, because policy is made on the basis of these research projects.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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