She was a participant in various protests of the group from 1970, including one in March of that year when the Dolle Minas exposed their stomachs showing the message "Baas in eigen buik" (Boss of your own belly) at a gynecological conference.
[4][5] The group was successful in raising funds and numerous clinics were established in the 1970s, allowing most women to have access to abortion, though it was still illegal.
[5] She combined her activism and her studies, writing her dissertation in 1972, De SDAP en het 'vrouwenvraagstuk', 1892–1920 (The Social Democratic Party and the 'Woman Question'), through an evaluation of the rise and fall of the turn-of-the-century women's movement and lack of response from the socialist labor party to women's demands.
[5] Because she wanted to stay home until her child was in school, Outshoorn delayed continuing her education officially, but she conducted research at the University of Amsterdam.
Her doctoral supervisor was Jan van Putten [nl], for whom she had served as a research assistant in the political science department during her studies.
Outshoorn was hired that year as the head of the women's studies department at Leiden University in a temporary 4-year program that granted a PhD in the field.
[9] Though Outshoorn had negotiated a permanent post in Leiden, her contract specified that the appointment was dependent upon the success of her department.