I am currently a researcher at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Research (NIDI-KNAW) and an associate professor in sociology at the Swedish Institute for Social Research (SOFI) at Stockholm University.

I completed my PhD at the Interuniversity Centre for Social Science Theory and Methodology (ICS) at Utrecht University in 2018. After that, I spend two years as an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Department of Sociology at the Radboud University Nijmegen. 

Research interests and projects

Most of my research projects, papers and teaching involves around gender inequality and how these inequalities are shaped by heterosexual gender normative expectations. Gender role expectations are ideas constructed by society about what is “appropriate” male or female behavior.  

Gender roles and same-sex couples

Same-sex couples provide the unique opportunity to study gender roles and gender inequality without the interference of sex. For example, same-sex couples cannot base their work and family lives on traditional gender norms that prescribe that the man should be the breadwinner and the woman should be the caregiver. Although some people think that one partner in same-sex couples takes on the "male" role and the other partner the "female" role, this is incorrect. But how do parents in same-sex couples arrange their work and family lives? Who is more likely to stay at home to take care of the children? Do (heterosexual) gender norms influence same-sex couples' division of labor for queer parents? Does it matter if same-sex couples live in countries where gender norms are more traditional or where homosexuality is more frowned upon? These are some of the questions I tackle in current projects.

Gender differences in fields of study

Boys and girls make different educational choices, which leads to gendered labor market prospects and family lives. My research focusses on many factors that might contribute to these gender differentials. I have studied the role of internalized gender ideologies, (relative) ability, parents, family structure, siblings, and friends. The findings are published in my dissertation "Gendered choices. Fields of study of adolescents in the Netherlands" as well as various other peer-reviewed articles. Do not hesitate to contact me for more information about my dissertation or publications regarding this topic.

On this topic, I also collaborate with Pia Schober from the University of Tübingen as part of the  research project funded by the German research Foundation: "Parental gender socialization across diverse families: Interdependencies with sex hormones, family processes and socio-political context".

Live music and quality of life of people with dementia

In another project, I showed that live music performances improve aspects of the quality of life of people with dementia. The foundation ‘Diva Dichtbij’ (Diva in Proximity) gives intimate live music performances - performed by professional singers trained in making non-verbal contact - for people with a chronic illness. Our results show that these performances can be an inexpensive, noninvasive, feasible modality of complimentary care in elderly homes.