Unpacking the discursive construction of gender in higher education

In this article, I argue for the need to scrutinize policy discourses in education, as they shape which issues are deemed relevant and legitimate, and which are marginalized or omitted. I take the case of Catalonia, where policies promote the introduction of a so-called 'gender perspective'...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Caravaca Hernández, Alejandro|||0000-0002-7394-5721
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:321464
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/321464
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Género
Enseñanza
Educación superior
Análisis del discurso
Políticas de educación
Catalunya
Gènere
Ensenyament
Educació superior
Anàlisi del discurs
Polítiques d'educació
Gender
Teaching
Higher education
Discourse analysis
Education policy
SDG 4 - Quality Education
SDG 5 - Gender Equality
Descripción
Sumario:In this article, I argue for the need to scrutinize policy discourses in education, as they shape which issues are deemed relevant and legitimate, and which are marginalized or omitted. I take the case of Catalonia, where policies promote the introduction of a so-called 'gender perspective' in university teaching as part of a series of gender equality initiatives. Particularly, I unpack the discursive construction of such 'gender perspective', focusing on the inclusions, but also on the tensions and policy silences. Drawing on an analysis of a policy document and semi-structured interviews, I show the complex interplay of contending, yet coexisting approaches to gender equality (including 'equality as sameness', 'difference' and 'transformation'), and discuss the power relations involved in the policymaking processes. A discursive analysis of education policies proves relevant in questioning and critically examining what is frequently presented as a 'neutral' and 'depoliticized' issue, an empty shell, reduced to an unproblematized buzzword.