Judi Mesman

Judi Mesman studies how children and parents see themselves and one another in society, drawing on insights from different disciplines. Mesman made a name for herself as an expert on early childhood socialisation in different cultures, and on gender stereotyping in upbringing. For example, she has shown that fathers and mothers convey information to their children about how girls and boys are supposed to behave in subtle and often unconscious ways. Mesman is one of the founders of Athena’s Angels, four female professors who have joined together to defend the interests of women academics. She is also Dean of Leiden University College The Hague, an international honours college whose study programmes address major societal challenges.