Seeing the system: Systemic gender knowledge to support transformational change towards gender equality in science

an article by Monic Lansu, Inge Bleijenbergh  andG Yvonne Benschop (Nijmegen School of Management, Radboud University, The Netherlands) published in Gender. Work and Organization Volume 26 Issue 11 (November 2019)

Abstract

Scholars agree that gender inequality is systemic and that participants in gender equality interventions need knowledge on gender inequality processes. However, a detailed view on the specific characteristics of this knowledge is as yet missing.

This article aims to contribute to gender equality interventions by conceptualising and visualising systemic gender knowledge as an important condition for transformational change.

Combining gender and participatory system dynamics literature, this article first introduces the concept of systemic gender knowledge. This concept captures two main characteristics that make gender knowledge systemic: knowledge on the interaction of gender inequality processes and endogenous thinking, here implying a focus on the organisation as the relevant level of analysis.

In addition to this conceptual contribution, the research contributes methodologically to the gender inequality intervention literature by designing a visualisation process, translating written texts into system dynamics models which enable exploration of systemic gender knowledge.

Finally, the research contributes empirically by exploring the systemic gender knowledge of participants in two science research institutes of a Dutch university, finding shifts in both characteristics of systemic gender knowledge. This enables researchers to discern whether gender equality interventions lead to increases in systemic gender knowledge, thus supporting transformational change.

Full text (PDF 17pp)

Labels:
gender_equality, interventions, participatory_system_dynamics, systemic_gender_knowledge, transformational_change,

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