Gender Equality Plans. Processes, potentialities, contradictions and resistances in contexts of science production

CALL FOR ARTICLES

Editors: Maddalena Cannito (Scuola Normale Superiore), Barbara Poggio (University of Trento) e Alessia Tuselli (University of Trento)

 

At a European level, the promotion of gender equality in research and innovation is regarded as a key element, especially since the launch of the European Research Area (ERA) in the 2000s. Within the Communication, among the tools suggested to deal with existing gender inequalities, reference is made, for the first time, to the Gender Equality Plans (GEP).

Gender Equality Plans provide a set of actions aimed at preventing, reducing, and addressing gender imbalances and inequalities in research and innovation. In light of the last year’s adoption of GEPs by most of the Italian and European universities and research institutions, this call aims to make a first assessment, on the one hand by highlighting the potential, results, and processes set in motion thanks to the measures provided in the GEPs, and on the other hand by highlighting the aporias, challenges, and resistance regarding the implementation of the Plans.

We welcome empirical or theoretical contributions that critically address one or more of the following aspects:

  • construction, implementation, and evaluation processes;
  • feminist resistance or, on the contrary, "anti-gender" resistance;
  • participation/involvement;
  • motivations and premises: (not) a mere fulfilment of obligations;
  • time and actions (short-, medium-, long-term);
  • theoretical assumptions: matters of definition and intersectional perspective;
  • what GEPs don't talk about: voids and absences;
  • adopting a cross-cutting gender perspective and gender mainstreaming;
  • rhetoric (“excellence”, economic growth, etc.);
  • equal opportunities and neoliberalism;
  • opportunities for change; opening spaces for dialogue, new practices, innovation, and introduction of new analytical perspectives;
  • awareness raising;
  • risks and perverse effects;
  • opportunism and pinkwashing;
  • generalizations vs. situated dimensions;
  • standardization vs. creativity;
  • skills building;
  • (im)possible dialogues (between different internal levels of the organization; internal/external; national/European);
  • (neo)institutionalist logic;
  • resources (economic, human).

 

Call timeline:

Deadline by which to receive proposals: June 30, 2023

Deadline by which to have confirmation of proposal acceptance or rejection: end of September 2023

Publication of the call: end of November 2023

 

The complete text of the call is available here.