{"id":175909,"date":"2025-02-25T13:52:27","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T12:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=175909"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:41","slug":"why-ivonne-cune-noten-now-sees-gender-relations-differently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/02\/25\/why-ivonne-cune-noten-now-sees-gender-relations-differently\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Ivonne Cune-Noten now sees gender relations differently"},"content":{"rendered":"

De omwenteling by Suzanna Jansen was the book that changed the way Ivonne Cune-Noten, director of the bachelor’s programme in Law, views life. It was recommended to her by a man, and she picked it up unsuspectingly from her pile of unread books. Since then, she has looked at the position of women in society with sharper eyes. \u201cEveryone should read this book.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLeroy Verbeet<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Ask Ivonne Cune-Noten which book has made the biggest impression on her in nearly forty years of life, and she doesn\u2019t need even half a second to think. Ever since she read De omwenteling<\/em> (The Upheaval) by Suzanna Jansen two years ago, she has seen society differently. Cune-Noten: \u201cI have gained a deep respect for the struggles women have fought throughout history.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book explores the position of women in the Netherlands over the past century, from 1922 to 2022. From the perspectives of her mother, her older sister, and herself, Suzanna Jansen describes how women were expected to be devoted to their families and household duties. The title, De omwenteling<\/em>, refers to the major shift in women\u2019s emancipation. But these changes didn\u2019t happen automatically \u2013 women had to fight for them. And for that fight, Cune-Noten is grateful. \u201cI owe my professional position to that struggle. In the past, women were confined to the home and childcare. Now, I can simply work as the director of the bachelor\u2019s programme in Law and, until recently, as chair of the University Council.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eyes wide open<\/h2>

Cune-Noten was aware that gender relations were different in the past \u2013 that women gained the right to vote later than men and that they were traditionally responsible for the household. But the way Suzanna Jansen captured this history \u2018opened her eyes\u2019.<\/p>\n

It helped her better understand the dynamics she sees in her grandparents, parents, and in-laws. Where she once found it \u2018odd\u2019 that one of the women in her family received housekeeping money from her husband, she now understands why. \u201cIn the past, the man worked, and the woman was the director of the household. She was given money for that.\u201d<\/p>\n

When Cune-Noten read the book two years ago, she kept it in her bag to read a few pages during lunch breaks. It affected her so deeply that she now wishes every woman \u2013 \u2018and actually every man too\u2019 \u2013 would read it, \u2018to safeguard what we have and to appreciate the women who came before us\u2019.<\/p>\n\t

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Reading habits<\/strong><\/p>\n

Books per year: 1 or 2 per month. \u201cI love reading, really love it. But don\u2019t call me a bookworm \u2013 that would be too much credit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Favourite genre: Social issues mixed with thrillers<\/p>\n

Last book read: The Anxious Generation<\/em> by Jonathan Haidt<\/a> and De geschiedenis van het liberalisme<\/em> by Dirk Verhofstadt<\/a> [The history of liberalism<\/em>].<\/p>\n

Main motivation: Curiosity<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

Your vote, my victory<\/h2>

Two themes from the book stayed with her the most: women\u2019s struggle with their role as housewives and the reason why women\u2019s suffrage was introduced.<\/p>\n

The book suggests that political parties, eager to gain or retain power in the early 20th century, believed women would vote for them. Winning elections seemed to be a greater priority than the conviction that women deserved the right to vote.<\/p>\n

Cune-Noten found this \u2018shocking\u2019 but is cautious about drawing conclusions. \u201cBefore I go around claiming that this is the definitive reason why women got the right to vote, I want to investigate it for myself. And I haven\u2019t done that\u201d, she emphasises. But she has read Suzanna Jansen\u2019s book, and this is the impression she took away from it.<\/p>\n

Change can be more ambitious<\/h2>

A shift in women\u2019s emancipation doesn\u2019t automatically mean victory. \u201cTrue gender equality still doesn\u2019t exist\u201d, Cune-Noten says, \u201cbut the situation today is incomparable to a hundred years ago.\u201d She herself never considered stopping work, for example. Her mother was one of the first women in Luyksgestel to continue working part-time after having children. \u201cAbout forty years ago, women in my hometown were asked: \u2018Why don\u2019t you stop working?\u2019 Now, women who choose to stop are asked: \u2018Why are you quitting?\u2019 The norm has changed, progress has been made, but we can always aim higher. Everyone should decide for themselves where their ambitions lie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since reading De omwenteling<\/em>, Cune-Noten has become more aware of gender relations and how they play a role in many aspects of life. In the bachelor\u2019s programme in Law, which she leads, most of the lecture halls are filled with women. Meanwhile, in the municipal politics of Eersel, where she is active within the VVD, the entire municipal executive \u2013 including the aldermen and the mayor \u2013 is male. In passing, Cune-Noten mentions that the VVD\u2019s two seats \u2013 \u2018Eersel is a small municipality\u2019 \u2013 are held by women.<\/p>\n

Since reading Suzanna Jansen\u2019s book, she sees society differently. \u201cI never used to question whether something was for men or women. Now, I am aware of the differences. It doesn\u2019t make me an activist, but I carry this awareness with me from now on.\u201d<\/p>\n\t

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Ivonne Cune-Noten is the programme director of the bachelor’s in Law at Erasmus University. Until December 2024, she was chair of the University Council. She is also the VVD faction leader in Eersel. She studied Law and specialised in private law.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t

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