Learning to convert our evil spirits: mental illness and health in the Yoruba culture

If there is anything us humans can learn from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is that our daily lives are influenced significantly by nature and external factors that we can’t control. Although modern or ‘Western’ medicine helps us battling numerous diseases, sometimes finding a cure isn’t that easy or even impossible. Many cultures around the world […]

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‘Cleanliness is next to godliness’: the use of models in hygiene lectures in Victorian England

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, much more attention has been paid to hygiene, such as washing your hands regularly. Nowadays, we assume everyone knows that that will help against the spread of diseases. In Victorian England, this was not yet the case. The importance of clean water and personal hygiene was unknown for a long time […]

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The red light district in Amsterdam

Who owns the street? What a pavement tile can tell us about prostitution rights in Amsterdam

Recently, there has been a renewed interest in restricting the rights of prostitutes. Prostitution is legal in the Netherlands, as long as the concerned party has a permit.  The Netherlands are an exception in how they deal with topics such as prostitution and drugs. While some people are still discussing whether the legalizing of prostitution […]

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