Lecture: Role of women through the ages

Senior Citizens' Association Beek en Donk holds a lecture on the role of women through the ages. In 1934, the publisher Qerido published the collection of poems ‘Nieuwe Gedichten’, by Martinus Nijhoff. The most famous verse from it is ‘The Mother Woman’, which begins with the over-familiar words ‘I went to Bommel to see the bridge.’ Looking at the new bridge over the river Waal near Zaltbommel, the poet watches a woman skilfully steer a boat under the bridge while singing psalms. The title of the poem generates debate in the present day. From progressive women's circles, people consider it an old-fashioned, one-sided and affirmative image; as if motherhood should be an automatism for women. Reserved minds, often from religious quarters, do not see a negative idea in it at all. 

The mother the woman; are the two inseparable? Maybe at first glance, but when you think about it further, it is a combination that is actually as multifaceted as there are mothers AND women. You can look at it from different perspectives: from the mother, from the woman, from the child, from society and from the spirit of the times. Is motherhood the most beautiful thing that can happen to a woman or is it just something natural as a consequence of being a woman? Can motherhood get in the way of womanhood and lead to disaster or can they reinforce each other? And the children? Who can be absolutely crazy about their mother, but sometimes also very critical. How does society view motherhood over time? Has that changed with the changes within society? Isn't that society basically a man's stronghold that doesn't understand much about the mother-wife combination? And what role does religion play in this discussion? 

How have artists portrayed women and/or mothers? What did they mean by this? Art historian Dr Ger Jacobs takes a closer look at the role of women through the ages with a lecture based on a slide presentation. This last lecture of this season will be held at the Meeting Centre with a free cup of coffee or tea in the interval. Registration via the e-mail address is appreciated.