Gloria Wekker

In White Innocence Gloria Wekker explores a central paradox of Dutch culture: the passionate denial of racial discrimination and colonial violence coexisting alongside aggressive racism and xenophobia. Accessing a cultural archive built over 400 years of Dutch colonial rule, Wekker fundamentally challenges Dutch racial exceptionalism by undermining the dominant narrative of the Netherlands as a "gentle" and "ethical" nation. Wekker analyzes the Dutch media's portrayal of black women and men, the failure to grasp race in the Dutch academy, contemporary conservative politics (including gay politicians espousing anti-immigrant rhetoric), and the controversy surrounding the folkloric character Black Pete, showing how the denial of racism and the expression of innocence safeguards white privilege. Wekker uncovers the postcolonial legacy of race and its role in shaping the white Dutch self, presenting the contested, persistent legacy of racism in the country.

Paradoxes of Colonialism and Race

White Innocence

Onderzoek naar rassentegenstellingen in Nederland en de samenhang daarvan met het koloniale verleden en slavernij.

Paradoxen van kolonialisme en ras

Witte onschuld

The Politics of Passion centers on an old institution among the Afro-Surinamese working class in which women have multiple sexual relationships with both men and women. These women reject marriage because of the bonds of dependency it fosters, preferring to create their own families of kin, lovers, and children. Gloria Wekker analyzes this phenomenon, known as mati work, as she vividly describes the lives of Afro-Surinamese women. She gives an account of women's sexuality that is not limited to either heterosexuality or same-sex sexuality. Her work offers new perspectives on black women's sexuality, the lives of Caribbean women, transnational gay and lesbian movements, and an Afro-Surinamese tradition that challenges conventional Western notions of marriage, gender, and sexuality. By foregrounding the voices of Afro-Surinamese women, Wekker illuminates these women's daily lives in light of the changes occurring in Surinamese society. She also considers the historical, religious, psychological, economic, linguistic, cultural, and political elements that have shaped their lives. The book concludes with stories of women who have migrated to the Netherlands, where they have created new, vibrant mati communities.

Women's Sexual Culture in the Afro-Surinamese Diaspora

The Politics of Passion

Gloria Wekker analyzes the phenomenon of mati work, an old practice among Afro-Surinamese working-class women in which marriage is rejected in favor of male and female sexual partners. Wekker vividly describes the lives of these women, who prefer to create alternative families of kin, lovers, and children, and gives a fascinating account of women's sexuality that is not limited to either heterosexuality or same-sex sexuality. She offers new perspectives on the lives of Caribbean women, transnational gay and lesbian movements, and an Afro-Surinamese tradition that challenges conventional Western notions of marriage, gender, identity, and desire. Bringing these women's voices to the forefront, she offers an extensive and groundbreaking analysis of the unique historical, religious, psychological, economic, linguistic, cultural, and political forces that have shaped their lives.

Praten in het donker. Multiculturalisme en anti-racisme in feministisch perspectief

Women's Sexual Culture in the Afro- Surinamese Diaspora

subjectiviteit en seksualiteit van Creoolse volksklasse vrouwen in Paramaribo

Ik ben een gouden munt, ik ga door vele handen, maar ik verlies mijn waarde niet

Janne Teller

Kapka Kassabova

Julya Rabinowich

Leïla Slimani

Annelies Beck

Karolina Ramqvist

Hilary Cottam

Nora Ikstena

Renata Salecl

Zsófia Bán

Ioana Nicolaie

Yvonne Hofstetter

Ana Pessoa

Saara Turunen

Asja Bakić

Silvia Bencivelli

Lisa Dwan

Maarja Kangro

Sofia Kouvelaki

Carine Krecké

Caroline Muscat

Nora Nadjarian

Bronka Nowicka

Tereza Nvotová

Edurne Portela

Apolena Rychlíková

Žydrūnė Vitaitė

In collaboration with Hay Festival and Wom@rts. Introduced by Laura Bates, founder of the Everyday Sexism Project. ‘To be European,’ writes Leïla Slimani, ‘is to believe that we are, at once, diverse and united, that the Other is different but equal.’ Despite these high ideals, however, there is a growing sense that Europe needs to be fixed, or at the least seriously rethought. The clamour of rising nationalism – alongside widespread feelings of disenfranchisement – needs to be addressed if the dreams of social cohesion, European integration, perhaps even democracy are to be preserved. This anthology brings together 28 acclaimed women writers, artists, scientists and entrepreneurs from across the continent to offer new perspectives on the future of Europe, and how it might be rebuilt. Featuring essays, fictions and short plays, Europa28 asks what it means to be European today and demonstrates – with clarity and often humour – how women really do see things differently. ‘Inspiring, essential, honest and deeply humane... This brilliant collection takes readers on a brave journey into our beloved continent, Europe, daring to tell the stories beyond its centres of power and privilege.’ - Elif Shafak

Gloria Wekker

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