Puck Rouffaer wins Volkskrant-IISG thesis prize 2025!
Puck Rouffaer is the winner of the Volkskrant-IISG thesis prize with her thesis 'Between liberation and social control in sexological practice. Coen van Emde Boas' approach to homosexuality and 'transsexism', 1950-1980'.
The psychiatrist van Emde Boas was a complex figure whose ideas about homosexuality and 'transsexism' were considered progressive in the 1950s but repressive two decades later.
The jury praised Rouffaer for her skillful analytical and stylistic work. 'Although the thesis is biographical in nature, it clearly transcends the life of one man, and therein lies its strength. Van Emde Boas serves as a lens through which Rouffaer depicts the shifting zeitgeist and frameworks of thought on sexuality and sexual orientation,' said jury chair Timon de Groot (IISG) in his laudatory speech.
The theses of the other two nominees were also praised. Duco Dijkema examined the development of Dutch policy on the recognition of genocide in the post-Cold War period. Nina Witteman wrote about the history of malaria. Her research showed that the disease was already recognised and treated in the Middle Ages.
Puck Rouffaer won 1,500 euros. In addition, an interview with her will appear in newspaper de Volkskrant.
Volkskrant-IISG thesis prize is open to students who have written a master's thesis at a Dutch university in the field of history or have written a thesis on a historical topic (national or international). This year was the sixteenth edition.
