Gender equality
Interviews
Interviewer: Stephanie - interviewees Grandmother Nel (80) & Dad Arie (49)
Grandmother Nel (80)
Introduction
Nel lived with her parents and her 8 siblings in one house, her dad was a construction worker and her mom a housewife. She lived in Papendrecht, West-Eind, she doesn't remember any historical events because she has demantia.
Questions
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
The upbringing was equal. The relationship was equal.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Boys and girls had the same rights to education at school. Girls often went to "household school". Yes, girls were considered in a different way from boys at school.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Men got payed more. Yes there were jobs for women and men. No they didn't have the same opportunities with reference to work, because it were different times and people had a different mentality. Typically male jobs were carpenters, factory workers and truck drivers and typical femal jobs were typists, clothing factories, assembly line work or pastry making.
4. Did women had the same salary as man?
No, men got payed more.
5. How was household divided between men and women?
The men did not help the women in the household
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
No, not completely
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the government?
Yes, I don't know why
Dad Arie (49)
Introduction
Arie lives with his parents and brother in one household, his dad was a carpenter and his mom was a typist. He lived in Zwijndrecht, Dr Plesmanstraat, the one thing he remembered from when he was younger, is that there were a lot of fights everyday.
Questions
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
This question is hard to answer because there were only 2 boys.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Boys and girls had the same rights to education at school. There were no differnces in the kind of high school that boys and girls chose.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Men got payed more. There were jobs for either men and women. They did not have the same oppertunities with reference to work, because it were different times and people had a different mentality. Typically male jobs were carpenters, factory workers and truck drivers and typical female jobs were nurses, typists; jobs that were not physically challenging.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
No, men got paid more.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
The men did not help the women in the household
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
No, because there are still big differences, they still earn less money than men, there still are people that think less of females.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Yes, I'm not really sure how but slowly they're getting more equal to men.
Interviewer: Jordan - interviewees Grandmother Leny (83) & mom Shirley (53)
Grandmother Leny (83)
Introduction
Leny lived with her parents and her twin brother in one household. My father was a skipper, with his own pilot boat in the harbour of Rotterdam. My mother was also on the boat when we were young, she worked very hard. I remember a few things from the second World War. My family and I lived in Rotterdam during the War.
Questions
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
I am a twin with my brother. We were ver lucky we had modern parents. My mother insisted I was treated the same way as my mother.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Not all the girls went to school after 13 years, maybe until after 14 or 16 years. But for boys it was normal to finish school or go to college. My brother finished his school and became a technician. I finished a girls school and when I was 16 I worked at an trade office for skippers.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Men had more opportunities and a better salary.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
There was a very big difference in salary
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
My mother was the one doing the household, my father was the skipper and took care of making enough money for our family. The chores were clear and there was no envy or discussion. My parents were a great team, they worked on the boat together and in our house they had their own chores to make a happy home.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
Women are emancipated more, but there is still a long road to travel. And saying that I wonder what completely emancipated would look like...
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Women started fighting for their rights ages ago and they will continue. They will not stop until every women in the world has the rights to be herself equal to men.
Mom Shirley (53)
Shirley lived with her parents and 3 siblings in one household, her dad was an architect and her mom worked at a office, and also worked at an institute for blind people. She was born in Suriname but later moved to Rotterdam. She remembers a couple of things from when she was young, for instance the starvation that African people suffered from or the terror war in Cambodia.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
In my family there were no differences, my parents treated us equally.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
There were no differences.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
There were typical jobs for men and women, but I think that is alright. However I stand for equal rights and payments if they do the same job.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
No, and that is still the problem in a lot of jobs, even when they have the same education.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
I cannot remember my father doing anything in the household, but we were in the fortunate position of having housekeepers. And my mother is a wonder woman and did everything herself. My father just workes, in that time that was alright... I guess.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
I think they are more emancipated, but I also think men are more emancipated. We live in a time with more respect for each other. And because women work everyday outdoor, man and wife divide the chores at home.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
I think the government only was stimulated to help the strikes of very powerful women in the history.
Interviewer: Owen - interviewees Grandmother Lieneke & Mom Meryl (46)
Grandmother Lieneke
Lieneke lived with her parents and 2 siblings in one household, her dad was an architect and my mom cleaned the houses for other people. She was born in Rotterdam. I can remember the WW1 and the Cold War.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
There was no difference between the upbringing in my family but I don"t know how it was done in other families. But it was equal in my family.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
In my school there were no differences between boys and girls.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Very much, now a days its easier for men and women to get the same job, but in my time it was very different.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
Girls earned less than men in my time.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
Usually my mother did everything and my dad worked, now a days the men do the chores when they are home.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
Yes, because I think we should a be equal
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Yes, I think so
Mom Meryl (53)
Meryl lived with her parents and her 2 sibling in one household, her dad was was a constructor for big buildings and her mom worked in an office. She was born in Eindhoven. She doesn't really remember anything from when she was younger.
1. were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
No, it was the same, I try to raise my kids equally because we are thriving to a gender neutral world.
2. did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Yes, because you had classes with boys and girls mixed.
3. what differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Almost nothing because I have a job that everyone could've had.
4. did women have the same salary as man?
Yes and no, women do earn a little less but they earn more then they used to do.
5. how was the household divided between men and women?
Well, mostly women, but in my family everyone had to do something.
6. do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
No, because I think it should be equal.
7. has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Yes, I think maybe a little.
Interviewer: Jamie Leigh - interviewees Grandmother Judy (69) & Mom Bianca (45)
Grandmother Judy (69)
Judy lived with her brothers and sisters in one household, her dad was a workman in a factory and her mom was a housewife. She was born in Java, Indonesia. She doesn’t really remember any historical events.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
There was a lot of difference between the way boys and girls got treated in the country. I was born in Indonesia and I lived there till I was 14. Indonesia had just became independent, so boys needed to work more etc. In my family however, the boys and girls got treated the same.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
In school there wasn’t a lot of difference. Me, my sisters and my brother both went to the same school. It was a public school and everyone got treated equally. The only difference was in the uniform that we wore; the girls wore a skirt, the boys wore trousers.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Woman did not work a lot when I lived in Indonesia. Independence was rising and Indonesia was recovering from its dependence. A lot of man worked in factories and on land, woman worked at home or in the gardens.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
If a woman worked, their salary would be quite similar. The money / salary didn’t depend on your gender or religion etc, it depended on the job / function you had.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
My mother and oldest sisters did a lot of work in the household. Of course we all had a certain job that we had to get done, but my mom and oldest sisters did most of it. My dad never really had to help because he was working, but he always offered help anyway.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
In the Netherlands the situation right now is very different from the situation in Indonesia right now. But nowadays I feel like it’s improved a lot and woman are getting treated way more equally.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
I feel like woman did more of it theirselves. They are the one who strived for equal rights etc, which I think is beautiful. Of course the government helped by agreeing because they make the rules etc, but they aren’t the ones who made a better situation for woman.
Mom Bianca (45)
Bianca lived with her parents and 1 sister in one household, her dad worked for a big company and her mom worked in a beauty store. She lived in Zwijndrecht. She doesn’t really know any historical events.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
There wasn’t a big difference between the upbringing of boys and girls when I grew up. The relationship wasn’t any difference either.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
In the time I grew up, boys and girls had the same educational rights. The school choices were a bit different. Boys often chose schools that provided technical and hand work lessons. Girls often chose regular schools.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
The difference between the work boys and girls chose was big. A lot of girls decided to follow studies that included beauty or fashion for example and the boys often chose to follow studies that provided handwork and creativity etc. However, men and woman did have the same opportunities to work and get a job.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
The amount of salary didn’t depend on your gender or ethnicity, it depended on your function and the hours you made. But equality had risen so I’d say yes, it was equal salary.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
My mother did most of the household work, but me and my little sister helped her often. My dad was / is a hard working man but still offered help when he felt it would come in handy for my mom.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
Yes I do. Woman have strived for their rights and equality and I think they made a difference for a lot of woman in this world. However, I do not feel like they are fully there yet. There are still countries in which woman aren’t allowed to drive cars etc.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
I feel like woman did it theirselves. They are the ones putting their life in danger for equality and rights. The only thing the government did was give them permission to do certain stuff.
Interviewer: Stephanie - interviewees Grandmother Nel (80) & Dad Arie (49)
Grandmother Nel (80)
Introduction
Nel lived with her parents and her 8 siblings in one house, her dad was a construction worker and her mom a housewife. She lived in Papendrecht, West-Eind, she doesn't remember any historical events because she has demantia.
Questions
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
The upbringing was equal. The relationship was equal.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Boys and girls had the same rights to education at school. Girls often went to "household school". Yes, girls were considered in a different way from boys at school.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Men got payed more. Yes there were jobs for women and men. No they didn't have the same opportunities with reference to work, because it were different times and people had a different mentality. Typically male jobs were carpenters, factory workers and truck drivers and typical femal jobs were typists, clothing factories, assembly line work or pastry making.
4. Did women had the same salary as man?
No, men got payed more.
5. How was household divided between men and women?
The men did not help the women in the household
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
No, not completely
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the government?
Yes, I don't know why
Dad Arie (49)
Introduction
Arie lives with his parents and brother in one household, his dad was a carpenter and his mom was a typist. He lived in Zwijndrecht, Dr Plesmanstraat, the one thing he remembered from when he was younger, is that there were a lot of fights everyday.
Questions
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
This question is hard to answer because there were only 2 boys.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Boys and girls had the same rights to education at school. There were no differnces in the kind of high school that boys and girls chose.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Men got payed more. There were jobs for either men and women. They did not have the same oppertunities with reference to work, because it were different times and people had a different mentality. Typically male jobs were carpenters, factory workers and truck drivers and typical female jobs were nurses, typists; jobs that were not physically challenging.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
No, men got paid more.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
The men did not help the women in the household
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
No, because there are still big differences, they still earn less money than men, there still are people that think less of females.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Yes, I'm not really sure how but slowly they're getting more equal to men.
Interviewer: Jordan - interviewees Grandmother Leny (83) & mom Shirley (53)
Grandmother Leny (83)
Introduction
Leny lived with her parents and her twin brother in one household. My father was a skipper, with his own pilot boat in the harbour of Rotterdam. My mother was also on the boat when we were young, she worked very hard. I remember a few things from the second World War. My family and I lived in Rotterdam during the War.
Questions
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
I am a twin with my brother. We were ver lucky we had modern parents. My mother insisted I was treated the same way as my mother.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Not all the girls went to school after 13 years, maybe until after 14 or 16 years. But for boys it was normal to finish school or go to college. My brother finished his school and became a technician. I finished a girls school and when I was 16 I worked at an trade office for skippers.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Men had more opportunities and a better salary.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
There was a very big difference in salary
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
My mother was the one doing the household, my father was the skipper and took care of making enough money for our family. The chores were clear and there was no envy or discussion. My parents were a great team, they worked on the boat together and in our house they had their own chores to make a happy home.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
Women are emancipated more, but there is still a long road to travel. And saying that I wonder what completely emancipated would look like...
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Women started fighting for their rights ages ago and they will continue. They will not stop until every women in the world has the rights to be herself equal to men.
Mom Shirley (53)
Shirley lived with her parents and 3 siblings in one household, her dad was an architect and her mom worked at a office, and also worked at an institute for blind people. She was born in Suriname but later moved to Rotterdam. She remembers a couple of things from when she was young, for instance the starvation that African people suffered from or the terror war in Cambodia.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
In my family there were no differences, my parents treated us equally.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
There were no differences.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
There were typical jobs for men and women, but I think that is alright. However I stand for equal rights and payments if they do the same job.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
No, and that is still the problem in a lot of jobs, even when they have the same education.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
I cannot remember my father doing anything in the household, but we were in the fortunate position of having housekeepers. And my mother is a wonder woman and did everything herself. My father just workes, in that time that was alright... I guess.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
I think they are more emancipated, but I also think men are more emancipated. We live in a time with more respect for each other. And because women work everyday outdoor, man and wife divide the chores at home.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
I think the government only was stimulated to help the strikes of very powerful women in the history.
Interviewer: Owen - interviewees Grandmother Lieneke & Mom Meryl (46)
Grandmother Lieneke
Lieneke lived with her parents and 2 siblings in one household, her dad was an architect and my mom cleaned the houses for other people. She was born in Rotterdam. I can remember the WW1 and the Cold War.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
There was no difference between the upbringing in my family but I don"t know how it was done in other families. But it was equal in my family.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
In my school there were no differences between boys and girls.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Very much, now a days its easier for men and women to get the same job, but in my time it was very different.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
Girls earned less than men in my time.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
Usually my mother did everything and my dad worked, now a days the men do the chores when they are home.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
Yes, because I think we should a be equal
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Yes, I think so
Mom Meryl (53)
Meryl lived with her parents and her 2 sibling in one household, her dad was was a constructor for big buildings and her mom worked in an office. She was born in Eindhoven. She doesn't really remember anything from when she was younger.
1. were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
No, it was the same, I try to raise my kids equally because we are thriving to a gender neutral world.
2. did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
Yes, because you had classes with boys and girls mixed.
3. what differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Almost nothing because I have a job that everyone could've had.
4. did women have the same salary as man?
Yes and no, women do earn a little less but they earn more then they used to do.
5. how was the household divided between men and women?
Well, mostly women, but in my family everyone had to do something.
6. do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
No, because I think it should be equal.
7. has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
Yes, I think maybe a little.
Interviewer: Jamie Leigh - interviewees Grandmother Judy (69) & Mom Bianca (45)
Grandmother Judy (69)
Judy lived with her brothers and sisters in one household, her dad was a workman in a factory and her mom was a housewife. She was born in Java, Indonesia. She doesn’t really remember any historical events.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
There was a lot of difference between the way boys and girls got treated in the country. I was born in Indonesia and I lived there till I was 14. Indonesia had just became independent, so boys needed to work more etc. In my family however, the boys and girls got treated the same.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
In school there wasn’t a lot of difference. Me, my sisters and my brother both went to the same school. It was a public school and everyone got treated equally. The only difference was in the uniform that we wore; the girls wore a skirt, the boys wore trousers.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
Woman did not work a lot when I lived in Indonesia. Independence was rising and Indonesia was recovering from its dependence. A lot of man worked in factories and on land, woman worked at home or in the gardens.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
If a woman worked, their salary would be quite similar. The money / salary didn’t depend on your gender or religion etc, it depended on the job / function you had.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
My mother and oldest sisters did a lot of work in the household. Of course we all had a certain job that we had to get done, but my mom and oldest sisters did most of it. My dad never really had to help because he was working, but he always offered help anyway.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
In the Netherlands the situation right now is very different from the situation in Indonesia right now. But nowadays I feel like it’s improved a lot and woman are getting treated way more equally.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
I feel like woman did more of it theirselves. They are the one who strived for equal rights etc, which I think is beautiful. Of course the government helped by agreeing because they make the rules etc, but they aren’t the ones who made a better situation for woman.
Mom Bianca (45)
Bianca lived with her parents and 1 sister in one household, her dad worked for a big company and her mom worked in a beauty store. She lived in Zwijndrecht. She doesn’t really know any historical events.
1. Were there differences in upbringing of boys and girls?
There wasn’t a big difference between the upbringing of boys and girls when I grew up. The relationship wasn’t any difference either.
2. Did boys and girls have the same rights to education at school?
In the time I grew up, boys and girls had the same educational rights. The school choices were a bit different. Boys often chose schools that provided technical and hand work lessons. Girls often chose regular schools.
3. What differences were there between men and women with reference to work?
The difference between the work boys and girls chose was big. A lot of girls decided to follow studies that included beauty or fashion for example and the boys often chose to follow studies that provided handwork and creativity etc. However, men and woman did have the same opportunities to work and get a job.
4. Did women have the same salary as man?
The amount of salary didn’t depend on your gender or ethnicity, it depended on your function and the hours you made. But equality had risen so I’d say yes, it was equal salary.
5. How was the household divided between men and women?
My mother did most of the household work, but me and my little sister helped her often. My dad was / is a hard working man but still offered help when he felt it would come in handy for my mom.
6. Do you consider women to be completely emancipated nowadays?
Yes I do. Woman have strived for their rights and equality and I think they made a difference for a lot of woman in this world. However, I do not feel like they are fully there yet. There are still countries in which woman aren’t allowed to drive cars etc.
7. Has the position of women in society changed with the help of the goverment?
I feel like woman did it theirselves. They are the ones putting their life in danger for equality and rights. The only thing the government did was give them permission to do certain stuff.