We want to put our members in the spotlight! For the Meet the WISE series, we interview WISE members in different stages of their career across the university. We hope that their stories, experiences and career paths can be an inspiration to other women at TU/e.
Hello! Could you start by introducing yourself and the research that you're doing?
I'm Lenneke Kuijer. I'm an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial Design and my research is about the impact of technology, and how it is designed, on everyday life. I focus on how the design affects the resource intensity with the energy use of everyday life in the domestic context. And I use theories from social sciences, that specialize in identifying the impacts of technology on everyday life from a historic perspective. I also work on translating those insights towards more future oriented perspectives that are useful for designers.
You are currently a WISE member, but previously you were also on the WISE board. Could you tell us about what drew you to WISE?
I was interested in doing something at the university level and getting to know people in other departments. So, when it was suggested that I could join the WISE board by a colleague, I got involved. There was definitely no activist motive at that time for me to join. I initially thought: “I've never engaged with WISE before and I personally don't experience any gender discrimination in my job... so am I the right person to join them?” Since joining WISE though, I've learned much more about how gender discrimination is definitely there. Especially through the research [on gender discrimination in academia] that I came into contact with through WISE, the numbers started to add up. One of the things that really stayed with me was about course evaluations. There is research about how women tend to structurally score lower in course evaluations and get harsher comments from students. I think it's important for women in academia to be aware of this. These things kept emphasizing for me the importance of WISE being there.
Is there a WISE activity that stood out in your mind where you thought: this is why we're doing what we're doing?
One of the main things I did when I was on the WISE board was organizing the writing retreats for women. When I joined WISE, I had just been on a women's writing retreat in the UK organized by former colleagues. I enjoyed that so much. Creating space for writing is so important for my enjoyment of the work. Also, research shows that women tend to get more administrative jobs, and more students come to them for advice. So their time gets eaten up even more. That’s why we created these writing groups for women. I also organized annual events. Each time, like in my own work, I tried to bring the perspective from social science experts into the technical university. One year, Yolande Strengers was one of the speakers. She had just published The Smart Wife at the time, and I really enjoyed reading that book. It’s very much about the roles of technology in shaping and reshaping gender roles, I would recommend it.
The WISE Writing Retreat continues this year; WISE members were enthusiastic about it.
Oh, that's good to hear!
You mentioned that you haven't experienced much gender discrimination in your environment. What do you think is going “right” in your environment?
Well, first I must say that I realize my own privilege. I'm in a department where the gender balance is relatively equal, more than in other departments, and also the field is maybe a little bit different than the more hardcore engineering departments. And I'm also a Dutch and a cis-gender white woman. These privileges make it very easy for me to work in this field of engineering.
Well actually, maybe I did experience some gender discrimination. However, it was more positive discrimination. When I got my VENI grant, I think it helped that I was a woman. And I'm fine with that. I have now been part of the process on the other side, and I know that they clearly look at excellence and then there is a little bit more chance for a woman to get it.
I also think it really helps that gender discrimination has been a topic for a long time and that my colleagues around me are aware of this, also my male colleagues. I have never experienced that I am treated differently, but one of my motto’s is “rather naive than superstitious.” I tend to see the positive things in people. Maybe if I would be more superstitious, I would see more gender discrimination, but I don't really see the benefit of that.
Have you had any female role models throughout your career?
I think it's so important to have a role model. I think for me, Yolande Strengers is a great example. She has been very successful and strategic in having her career, while still being a very open person with really interesting research and a nice group that she has built.
Another is Floor Alkemade. She's a professor in IE&IS. I admire that she has made boundaries for herself. She's successful in the sense that she has climbed the ladder, but she also has a personal life. One of the things that I really don't like about academia is when people complain all the time about how much work there is and she's different in that. She works hard, but it's not talked about as: “I'm suffering. I'm an academic, so I'm suffering”. I don't like it when that is normalized as a part of academia. I actually love being in academia. I get a lot of energy and satisfaction out of it. Of course, there are tough parts to it, but most of all I really love what I do.
Have you seen any examples in your surroundings that you think are moving the needle for women in academia?
It’s really the small steps. I think the Irene Curie program was a good small step. I was happy that the university did that courageously. Also in NWO, there are small steps to give more chances to women. I believe in positive discrimination. There is also a downside to that, because you don’t want to be selected for something because you’re a woman, But I really believe in change through practice. If there are no women there in practice, you can’t have the change!
What are your hopes for women in academia in the future?
It would be really beneficial if women became better integrated into all layers of the of the university. I am behind the quota for women because I think achieving critical mass can help to make that change. Currently the academic culture is really shaped around the character and the ways of working of cis-gendered man. That's just how historically the system has grown. But women don't have to fit the jacket of being successful academic in a particular way, the jacket should be adjusted to people with more diverse backgrounds. I think it's to all our benefit to make this change, but I understand that that feels threatening for people who perfectly fit the jacket. But I don't think that the jacket should misfit them in this new situation. It should just be able to fit more people.
For a junior career researcher starting tomorrow, what advice would you give her?
Don’t stretch yourself too thin. Find the things that give you energy and joy. Sometimes you have to do things that you just have to do, but there has to be a balance. It's about making these strategic choices and I also realize that my privileged position has given me these choices. I'll try to do what I can from my position to create those opportunities for others.
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Examples of research on (gender) bias in student evaluations:
Example of research on gender and administrative jobs in academia: