In recent years there have been major policy developments and policy debates on both the search for excellence in science, and the need for more effective gender mainstreaming and gender equality measures. However, these two sets of initiatives have usually been promoted rather separately from each other, whether at organisational, national and European levels. The move to “excellence” may involve both intended and unintended consequences, including those relating to gender relations, biases and inequalities. Gender relations, gender biases, gender inequalities in the construction of “excellence” can occur in terms of:
• Individuals: Who does what in science, including women’s participation
• Organisations: Gender in organisations, organising, and cultures of science
• Knowledge: Gender in research process and knowledge production in science
These processes of gender relations, gender biases, gender inequalities are not only about women, but equally the gendering of men and masculinities, including men’s domination of the scientific leadership. Changing this situation means changing men, not changing women to “fit in”. Gendering – of men and women – is also intersectional, complicating the picture further.
Vienna: Medizinische Universität Wien, Facultas Verlags- und Buchhandels AG , 2012, 1. p. 75-86