معرفی
Nina van Eekert is a postdoctoral researcher at KU Leuven affiliated with the Interfaculty Institute for Family and Sexuality Studies (IFSS) and the Research Group on Social Policy, Social Work, Public Opinion, and Population Dynamics (ReSPOND). Her work bridges health sociology and policy development, focusing on sexual and reproductive health in both global and Belgian contexts.
She earned her PhD in Sociology and Health Sciences in 2020 with a dissertation titled To Medicalize or Not to Medicalize: Is That the Question? Exploring Medicalization of Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in Egypt and Kenya.
Her research spans female genital cutting, medicalization processes, sexuality education polarization, contraceptive decision-making, and anti-gender movement impacts. She employs mixed-method approaches to examine how cultural beliefs intersect with healthcare systems, particularly in migrant populations and educational settings. Current work investigates FGC medicalization in Egypt/Kenya and polarization dynamics in Flemish sexuality education.
Recent publications reveal consistent thematic focus on reproductive health governance, with 2024-2025 outputs emphasizing medical decision-making in super-diverse societies, FGC medicalization frameworks, and pandemic impacts on youth sexual health. Key journals include Culture, Health & Sexuality and Archives of Sexual Behavior.
As co-promotor for two major projects (2024-2028), she leads Bridging Divides: Navigating Opposition in Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Bridging Divides: A Systems Approach to Polarization around Sexuality Education in Flanders. She prioritizes evidence-based policy translation and public engagement, viewing research as a societal good.
She actively collaborates within IFSS's interfaculty framework and ReSPOND's social policy networks, contributing to KU Leuven's leadership in sexuality studies through interdisciplinary team science.
