DUTCH WOMEN′S NETWORKS – A PLEA FOR A NETWORK OF NETWORKS

In: Women in Management Review, Band 6, Heft 6

Abstract

Since 1918 The Netherlands has witnessed the founding of numerous
women′s organisations. The history, present situation and future
developments of Dutch women′s networks are analysed by means of network
theory. Women′s networks have been established to give women
professional and private support which they did not find in other social
and organisational circuits. Women′s networks are growing not only in
number, but also in size. With the aid of network theory three trends
are pointed out: (1) temporary support networks become real social
networks, (2) temporary issue and support networks are being created
within the broader framework of networks, (3) women′s networks are
turning into organisation networks. This higher degree of organisation
resembles the development of the role of trade unions in society. The
women′s movement seems to be moving in the same direction; therefore a
higher degree of organisation is a challenge for the future. First, in
order to become a major stakeholder for organisations the women′s
networks need to accept their mutual interdependence and should start
working according to the principles of partnership. They need to
co‐operate, and the forces within the women′s movement need to be
concentrated so that the entire movement can gain strength. Secondly,
the diversity of women′s organisations demands an internal reorientation
in order to survive the external and internal demands of the 1990s on
these networks.