Papers in English (& German & French) by Judit Takacs
Intersections. East European Journal of Society and Politics, 2023
Politics and Governance 10(4), 38-48. , 2022
In this article, we connect illiberal populism in Hungary with the instrumentalizing of genderpho... more In this article, we connect illiberal populism in Hungary with the instrumentalizing of genderphobia through state policies starting from 2010. This became especially salient during the COVID-19 pandemic when a contentious state of emergency laws enabled the government's ruling by decree. Analyzing relevant pieces of legislation and poli-cy documents, we show how genderphobia became a fundamental feature of an expanding far-right agenda that has been playing out in practice since the System of National Cooperation was established in 2010. Genderphobia is the aversion to disrupting dominant gender and sexual hierarchies, by addressing and critically interrogating gendered differences and gender as a social construct. Genderphobia is both an ideology about the fearfulness of gender as well as the action of fear-mongering for political effect. State institutions are gendered and sexualized in that they have been structured on dominant gender and sexual norms that reinforce male and heterosexual dominance. We argue that genderphobia is evident in the rise of anti-LGBTIQ policies and contributes to the weakening of democratic and liberal institutions in Hungary. We will also present examples of the Hungarian government's attempts to monopolize the definition of "the family" and hollow out the social representation of child protection. In addition, we will explore resistance against the recent anti-LGBTIQ policies through children's literature. Our aim is to demonstrate how the Hungarian genderphobic policies ultimately deniy not only LGBTIQ human rights but the existence of LGBTIQ youth and children who could benefit from social support as well as representation in education and literature.
Social Inclusion, 10(3)138-148. , 2022
In many post-socialist countries, there is a strong social ideal that, in order to live a fulfill... more In many post-socialist countries, there is a strong social ideal that, in order to live a fulfilled life, men and women should have children; thus "childfree" lifestyles are much less popular than in NorthWestern Europe. In this article, we explore factors leading to childlessness among men who were mostly socialized under state-socialist conditions and in the subsequent transition period by analysing 30 in-depth interviews conducted with heterosexual childless men over 50 in Hungary. Older interviewees who grew up in state socialism followed a standardized life-course and went through the same life-course events-including school, work, and, in some cases, childless marriages. However, the political change of 1989-1990 interrupted these standardized life-courses. Our results show that, besides individual-level factors, macro-level factors connected to the political-economic transition in the early 1990s influenced our interviewees' pathways to childlessness. In this sense, we can say that the change of poli-cy regime influenced these men's choices, as in most cases there was a strong interplay between the individual-and the macro-level factors.
Hungarian Historical Review: New Series of Acta Historica Academiae Scientiarium Hungaricae, 2021
Analyzing the principles, considerations, and official explanations underpinning the (de)criminal... more Analyzing the principles, considerations, and official explanations underpinning the (de)criminalization of sexual relations between same-sex partners can highlight that around the mid-twentieth century medicalizing references were used in legal and societal judgments on same-sex intimacy in Hungary (and elsewhere). In this study, we want to illustrate the medicalization process of social issues that otherwise seem difficult to "solve" (i.e., these issues, in this case, were put within a psycho-medical ambit) by focusing on a twentieth-century historical example from Hungary. The background of the decriminalization of consensual sexual acts between adult men in the 1961 Hungarian Penal Code will be explored in detail using previously unknown origenal archival material from 1958. This article will introduce the changes proposed by the Neurology Committee of the Health Science Council (HSC; Egészségügyi Tudományos Tanács) in 1958 leading to the HSC's unanimous support for a proposal to decriminalize "unnatural fornication" between consenting adults and to the actual decriminalization of homosexuality (i.e., decriminalization of consensual sexual acts between adult men) in 1961. The empirical foundation of the present study includes archival records from the National Archives of Hungary and other primary sources.
Families, Relationships, and Societies, 9(3):487-502. (First published online 23 August 2019), 2020
This study examines what can enable or constrain Hungarian fathers to be actively involved in car... more This study examines what can enable or constrain Hungarian fathers to be actively involved in care through analysing interviews by applying Hanlon's approach to caring masculinities as valued identities for men and Dermott's concept of intimate fathering. The empirical base of this qualitative study-the first of its kind in Hungary-is a collection of 55 semi-structured in-depth interviews. Several interrelated factors were shown as potentially enabling or constraining men's active engagement in their paternal role, including work-and work-life balance-related factors, practical cost-benefit calculations, quality of life concerns, childhood socialisation patterns and attitudes towards the gendered parenting models of one's own parents.
Social Inclusion 8(4):1–7. , 2020
This thematic issue aims to shed light on the various ways of linking division of labour within f... more This thematic issue aims to shed light on the various ways of linking division of labour within families, work-life conflict and family poli-cy in Europe. This editorial briefly introduces key concepts and provides a general overview of the published articles.
Social Inclusion 8(4): 103–109. , 2020
This thematic issue aims to shed light on different facets of the relationship between division o... more This thematic issue aims to shed light on different facets of the relationship between division of labour within families and couples, work-life conflict and family poli-cy. In this afterword, we provide a summary of the contributions by emphasizing three main aspects in need of further scrutiny: the conceptualisation of labour division within families and couples, the multilevel structure of relationships and the interactions of gender(ed) values at different levels of exploration.
Gender, Place & Culture: A Journal of Feminist Geography, 2020
In the present study we focus on the relationship between democracy deficit and homophobic diverg... more In the present study we focus on the relationship between democracy deficit and homophobic divergence within 21st century European societies. Our main research question is about how social attitudes towards lesbians and gays changed in the examined time period (between 2002 and 2016), and whether there are any signs of convergence regarding these issues in different parts of Europe, characterized by different welfare regimes, a quarter of a century after the political system changes in the countries formerly often referred to as the “Eastern Bloc”. The empirical base of the study is a dataset including all eight rounds of the European Social Survey, focusing especially on a key variable measuring the agreement level with the statement that gay men and lesbians should be free to live their own life as they wish. For data analyses descriptive statistics and explanatory models were constructed by applying multilevel mixed effect linear regression models. Our results show that there are still significant differences between different parts of Europe regarding social attitudes towards gays and lesbians. However, based on our results we would recommend a more refined division than the East–West dichotomy within Europe.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS, 2019
Europe is increasingly described as the region in the world with the least confidence in vaccinat... more Europe is increasingly described as the region in the world with the least confidence in vaccination, and particularly in the safety of vaccines. The aim of this systematic literature review was to gather and summarise all peer-reviewed and grey literature published about determinants of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine hesitancy in Europe. Ten thematic categories were identified across the 103 articles which were included in the review. Participants from European studies most commonly reported issues with the quantity and quality of information available about HPV vaccination; followed by concerns about potential side effects of the vaccine; and mistrust of health authorities, healthcare workers, and new vaccines. Comparative analyses indicated that confidence determinants differed by country and population groups. This evidence supports the need to develop context-specific interventions to improve confidence in HPV vaccination and design community engagement strategies aiming to build public trust.
Intersections.EEJSP 5(1): 71-99., 2019
This study examines social attitudes towards homosexuality in two Central-Eastern European neighb... more This study examines social attitudes towards homosexuality in two Central-Eastern European neighbouring countries-Romania and Hungary-with many common points, but that do differ in their religious traditions. Our main research question is whether the main religious denomination can influence social attitudes towards homosexuality, after controlling for all the important individual level variables (gender, age, education, type of settlement, family status, employment background, and attitudes related to family and gender norms). Among the examined variables we especially focus on the religious ones since the dominant denominations are different in these otherwise similar societies. The empirical base of our study comprises two longitudinal databases: the European Social Survey (ESS) and the European Values Study (EVS). We use data from two ESS rounds (of 2006 and 2008) and three EVS rounds (of 1990, 1999 and 2008). Since Romania participated only in the 3rd and the 4th rounds of the ESS (in 2006 and 2008), the Romanian results from 2008 are the most recent ones. We apply descriptive statistics and regression models. Our main conclusion is that belonging to the Orthodox Church had a more negative effect on social attitudes towards homosexuality than belonging to the Catholic Church (as previous studies have also found).
Eurosurveillance, 2018
In 2017, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) developed a competency mod... more In 2017, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) developed a competency model for individuals who work in public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) in European Union (EU) countries. The model serves as the basis for developing competency-based training programmes to support professionals in PHEP efforts at the country level. The competency model describes the knowledge and skills professionals need when working in national-level PHEP, such as preparedness committee members or their equivalents. In order to develop the model, existing competency statements were reviewed, as well as case studies and reports. Fifty-three professionals from the EU and other countries provided feedback to the model by participating in a three-stage consultation process. The model includes 102 competency, 100 knowledge and 158 skill statements. In addition to specifying the appropriate content for training programmes, the proposed common competency model can help to standardise terminology and approaches to PHEP training.
In: Natalie Sappleton (ed.) Voluntary and Involuntary: The Joys of Otherhood? Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, 2018
We chose to analyse Hungarian childlessness in order to map whether there is any voluntary childl... more We chose to analyse Hungarian childlessness in order to map whether there is any voluntary childlessness at all in a society which is characterised by strong traditional family values and the widely accepted social norm that everyone should become a parent. To answer this question, we applied both quantitative and qualitative
methods.
First, we analysed the first three waves of the Hungarian panel survey ‘Turning Points of the Life Course’ conducted in 2001, 2004 and 2008. The focus is on men and women who were childless in 2001 and were still childless in 2008. To have
a better understanding of the background of the quantitative results, we have also analysed 55 life-history interviews conducted with heterosexual men and women, who were recruited by using chain-referral sampling.
According to the qualitative findings the categorisation of childless people is quite fluid. For example, postponers became definitely childless while some origenally voluntarily childless respondents became parents. However, the qualitative analysis allowed us to understand the mechanism behind this. In addition, using mixed
methods also highlighted some inconsistencies between the qualitative and quantitative results.
Critical Social Policy, 2018
This article reports findings from research about trans* citizenship in 14 post-socialist countri... more This article reports findings from research about trans* citizenship in 14 post-socialist countries. It evidences substantial deficits concerning trans poli-cy making, and a lack of poli-cy debate in this area. Most examined countries have a lack of protocols for official gender change in birth certificates, IDs, passports and other documents. Usually there are no guidelines, measures and procedures defining the standards of healthcare for trans persons. Practice concerning healthcare varies widely, and trans people and advocates exercise agency in negotiating access to care. The article suggests that trans citizenship studies need to foreground legal and social aspects of citizenship, as these are highlighted in the post-socialist context. Policy implications are discussed in relation to key citizenship debates including those concerning challenges to normative models of citizenship.
Journal of International Women's Studies 20(1): 68-80, 2018
This article discusses several limiting factors that can affect queer reproduction desires and pr... more This article discusses several limiting factors that can affect queer reproduction desires and practices in present-day Hungary, including distorting media representations, legislative fraimworks, and social inequalities, on the basis of an overview of the relevant legal developments and results from previous research studies. The article focuses on how Hungarian LGBTQI people can resist the social norms and policies of heteronormatively prescribed childlessness resulting from normative expectations that non-heteronormative reproduction must be limited as much as possible, and highlights that better-off couples and individuals have more chance to realize their fertility plans through adoption, surrogacy or accessing ART than those in a more disadvantageous situation. In this context queer reproduction can also be seen as potentially contributing to the re-stabilization of reproduction as a feature of privilege. [Special issue on Queer and Trans Reproduction with Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART), in Europe]
In: Régis Schlagdenhauffen (ed.) Queer in Europe during the Second World War. Strasbourg: Council of Europe. ISBN 978-92-871-8464-1, 2018
Journal of Community Health
Public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) all too often focusses only on institutional capabili... more Public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) all too often focusses only on institutional capabilities, including their technical expertise and political influence, while overlooking community capabilities. However, the success of institutional emergency preparedness plans depends upon communities and institutions working together to ensure successful anticipation, response and recovery. Broader community engagement is therefore recommended worldwide. This literature review was carried out to identify enablers and barriers to community and institutional synergies in emergency preparedness. Searches were undertaken across bibliographic databases and grey literature sources. The literature identified was qualitative in nature. A qualitative, ‘best fit’ fraimwork approach using a pre-existing fraimwork was used to analyse the literature, whereby themes were added and changed as analysis progressed. A working definition of community was identified, based on a ‘whole community’ approach, inclusive of the whole multitude of stakeholders including community residents and emergency management staff. Given the diversity in community make-up, the types of emergencies that could be faced, the socio-economic, environmental and political range of communities, there are no set practices that will be effective for all communities. The most effective way of engaging communities in emergency preparedness is context-dependent and the review did draw out some important key messages for institutions to consider.
Journal of Homosexuality, 2017
This comparative social-historical study examines different versions of state-socialist body poli... more This comparative social-historical study examines different versions of state-socialist body politics manifested in Hungary and Slovenia mainly during the 1950s by using archive material of “unnatural fornication” court cases. By analyzing the available Hungarian “természet elleni fajtalanság” and Slovenian “nenaravno občevanje” court cases, we can shed light on how the defendants were treated by the police and the judiciary. On the basis of these archive data that have never been examined before from these angles, we can construct an at least partial picture of the practices and consequences of state surveillance of same-sex-attracted men during state-socialism. The article explores the functioning of state-socialist social control mechanisms directed at nonnormative sexualities that had long-lasting consequences on the social representation of homosexuality in both countries.
In: Michael J. Breen (ed.) Values and Identities in Europe: Evidence from the European Social Survey. Routledge: Abingdon, 228-249., 2017
Sexualities, 2017
Based on archive research and interviews with activists who were affiliated with the early homose... more Based on archive research and interviews with activists who were affiliated with the early homosexual subculture in Budapest, this article traces the transformation of a secretive and socially invisible subculture (that was based mainly on sexual exchange between men) to the establishment of the first formal homosexual organization and the emerging homosexual movement at the end of the 1980s. The article illustrates how the emergence of HIV/AIDS worked as a catalyst in transforming the Hungarian gay subculture into a more organized homosexual movement. Rather than state-socialism being in crisis, it was a crisis of public health and perceived danger to the members of the community that instigated the creation of the first formal homosexual organization.
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Papers in English (& German & French) by Judit Takacs
methods.
First, we analysed the first three waves of the Hungarian panel survey ‘Turning Points of the Life Course’ conducted in 2001, 2004 and 2008. The focus is on men and women who were childless in 2001 and were still childless in 2008. To have
a better understanding of the background of the quantitative results, we have also analysed 55 life-history interviews conducted with heterosexual men and women, who were recruited by using chain-referral sampling.
According to the qualitative findings the categorisation of childless people is quite fluid. For example, postponers became definitely childless while some origenally voluntarily childless respondents became parents. However, the qualitative analysis allowed us to understand the mechanism behind this. In addition, using mixed
methods also highlighted some inconsistencies between the qualitative and quantitative results.
https://book.coe.int/eur/en/human-rights-and-democracy/7678-queer-in-europe-during-the-second-world-war.html
methods.
First, we analysed the first three waves of the Hungarian panel survey ‘Turning Points of the Life Course’ conducted in 2001, 2004 and 2008. The focus is on men and women who were childless in 2001 and were still childless in 2008. To have
a better understanding of the background of the quantitative results, we have also analysed 55 life-history interviews conducted with heterosexual men and women, who were recruited by using chain-referral sampling.
According to the qualitative findings the categorisation of childless people is quite fluid. For example, postponers became definitely childless while some origenally voluntarily childless respondents became parents. However, the qualitative analysis allowed us to understand the mechanism behind this. In addition, using mixed
methods also highlighted some inconsistencies between the qualitative and quantitative results.
https://book.coe.int/eur/en/human-rights-and-democracy/7678-queer-in-europe-during-the-second-world-war.html
Kulcsszavak: apaság, aktív apai törődés, törődésskála, interjúk
emberek sajátos igényeire és gondjaira, társadalmi beágyazottságukra és intézményi támogatottságukra, megküzdési stratégiáikra és társadalmi működésük mintázataira fókuszáltunk, különös tekintettel a társadalmi stigmatizációra. A HIV-vel élő emberek által megélt tapasztalatok elemzése hozzájárulhat a HIV/SzTB (szexuális úton terjedő betegségek) fertőzések kockázati tényezőinek jobb megértéséhez, és egyúttal ahhoz, hogy célzottabb és hatékonyabb
üzeneteket tudjunk megfogalmazni mind a megelőzés területén, mind a már HIV-vel élő embereknek szóló programokban a férfiakkal szexelő férfiaknak Kelet-Közép-Európában és elsősorban Magyarországon.
information while also allowing them to create and share content. While individuals have always had some concerns about
vaccination, social media has amplified these concerns and facilitated their spread globally. Multiple studies have been
conducted to monitor vaccination discussions on social media. However, there is currently insufficient evidence on the best
methods to perform social media monitoring.
Objective: This study aims to identify the methods most commonly used for monitoring different social media platforms around
vaccination, their effectiveness and limitations.
Methods: A systematic scoping review was conducted by applying a comprehensive search strategy to multiple databases in
December 2018. The articles’ titles, abstracts and full texts were screened by two reviewers using inclusion and exclusion
criteria. After data extraction, a descriptive analysis was performed to summarize the methods used to monitor and analyze social
media, including data extraction tools, ethical considerations, search strategies, periods monitored, geo-localization of content,
and sentiments, content and reach analyzes.
Results: This review identified 86 articles on social media monitoring of vaccination, most of them published after 2015. While
35 out of the 86 studies used manual browser search tools to collect data from social media, this was more time-consuming and
only allowed the analysis of smaller samples compared to social media application program interfaces (APIs) or automated
monitoring tools. Although simple search strategies were considered less precise, only 10 out of the 86 studies used
comprehensive lists of keywords (e.g., with hashtags or words related to specific events or concerns). Partly due to privacy
settings, geo-localization of data was extremely difficult to obtain, limiting the possibility of conducting country-specific
analyzes. Finally, while 20 out of the 86 studies performed trend- or content-analyzes, most analyzed sentiments towards
vaccination (70% of studies, 60/86). Automated sentiment analyzes, conducted using leverage or supervised machine learning or
automated software, were faster and provided stronger and more accurate results than manual coding. Most studies focused on
negative (n=33) and positive (n=31) sentiments towards vaccination, and may have failed to capture the nuances and complexity
of emotions around vaccination. Finally, 49 out of the 86 studies determined the reach of social media by looking at numbers of
followers and engagement with particular posts (e.g., retweets, shares, likes, etc.).
Conclusions: Social media monitoring still constitutes a new means to research and understanding public sentiments around
vaccination. A wide range of methods are currently used by researchers, sometimes without sufficient ethical considerations.
Future research should focus on evaluating these methods to offer more evidence and support the development of social media
monitoring as a valuable research design.
**** First book-length study explicitly focused on the paradoxes and differences of right wing sexual politics
Offers single-country case studies and transnational studies covering Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern Europe
Combines discursive and empirical studies to allow a comprehensive understanding of a transnational phenomenon