International Conference on Gender Research

Inside and Beyond the Capital: Latent Profiles of Gay Men in Peru

Alejandro Aybar-Flores — 2026-04-25

Research on sexual minority health in Peru has largely focused on the capital city, overlooking how geographic inequalities shape heterogeneity among gay men living outside Lima. This study addresses this gap by comparing latent sociodemographic and risk-related profiles of gay men residing in Lima and in Peru’s inland regions, where structural constraints and social exclusion may operate differently. Using data from the 2017 First Virtual Survey for LGBTIQ+ People in Peru, we analyze two subsamples: gay men living in inland regions (n=657) and those residing in Lima (n=1,528). The study applies a two-stage unsupervised analytical framework across both settings. Behavioral, social, and structural indicators are summarized through dimensionality reduction techniques, followed by the evaluation of multiple clustering algorithms. Optimal solutions are selected based on internal validity metrics, and feature relevance is examined using Random Forest–based importance measures to support interpretability while preserving cross-regional comparability. Results reveal marked differences in both the number and composition of latent profiles across geographic contexts. In inland regions, the optimal solution identifies two clusters primarily differentiated by age and employment status, with secondary differences in access to STI/HIV information and health services. In contrast, the Lima subsample yields three distinct clusters, indicating greater internal heterogeneity. The largest Lima cluster is dominated by young adults with lower employment levels and higher prevalence of mental health problems and suicidal ideation, while older clusters display greater socioeconomic stability and lower psychosocial vulnerability. From a gender research perspective, these findings demonstrate that sexual minority inequalities are shaped less by individual risk behaviors than by gendered structural and spatial contexts. Geographic location influences not only levels of vulnerability but also the internal configuration of risk and protection among gay men in Peru. The study underscores the need for territorially differentiated research and interventions that move beyond capital-centered and behavior-focused frameworks.

Intersectional Gender Equality for the Structural Transformation of Research Organizations

Silvia Donoso Lopez — 2026-04-25

Evolving from Gender Equality Plans (GEP) to inclusive Gender Equality Plans (iGEP) requires the incorporation of an intersectional approach capable of addressing complex and structural inequalities, attending not only to formal equality but also to the power relations that shape experiences within scientific organizations. Intersectionality, as an analytical and political framework, recognizes that gender does not operate in isolation but rather interacts with other social categories -such as ethnicity, class, age, disability or sexual orientation- producing overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination and disadvantage. In Research Performing Organizations (RPOs), there is often a tension between the scarcity of systematic intersectional data – often caused by personal data protection policies – and the need for evidence to inform institutional policies and practices. However, these constraints cannot obviate persistent inequalities, even in environments that may seem homogeneous. Drawing on the experience of the Institute of Marine Science, this paper presents the various efforts made to obtain intersectional data and evidence of staff perceptions and experiences of discrimination and privilege related to their specific identities. The findings reveal diverse forms of exclusion, as well as dynamics of power, privilege and resistance that continue to shape organisational culture and affect the participation, recognition and career trajectories of specific groups. Addressing intersectional disadvantage requires both methodological sensitivity and ethical accountability. The paper highlights the contextual nature of intersectionalities, repositions marginalised voices within institutional analysis, and reflects on the positionality of those leading the process. It recognises the limits of perspectives and imaginaries constructed from outside marginalised groups, emphasising the importance of reflexivity and validation. The results of this process, shared and collectively validated within the institution, provide the foundation for the formulation of a GEP+ reinforcing its legitimacy and institutional relevance. The iGEP articulates inclusive policies aimed not only at addressing discrimination and inequalities, but at fostering deep and sustainable structural and cultural transformation. Through this comprehensive and intersectional approach, the iGEP advances substantive equality within the ICM, moving beyond compliance towards structural change, enhanced inclusion, and the recognition of diverse identities and lived experiences across the organisation.

Global Gender Differences in Access to Technology Support

Matthijs Fakkel — 2026-04-25

Women in low- and middle-income countries remain less likely than men to own mobile phones and use mobile internet. Further, when they do have access to devices, enabling factors such as training, affordability, safety, and social support remain limited. As a result, this gender imbalance can cost the Global South over 500 billion dollars in GDP over the next five years. Our study moves beyond the common first-level access metrics (e.g. access to technology) and also focuses on examining second-level digital divides (e.g. access to technology support). We investigate gender differences in: (1) internet access and, (2) satisfaction with local technology support, across 27 countries. We analysed survey data from 2,740 respondents, collected through the 2023 C20 Grassroots Survey. We examined whether the gender disparities in technology access and support exist across national contexts and global regions, and how these patterns vary by demographic factors. We used mixed-effects regression models which control for country-level baseline differences, age, and educational attainment. The findings showed variations at the country level, wherein some countries had men reporting better internet access, and some the exact opposite. Although at the global level, with all countries combined, gender differences arose neither in internet access nor in technology support, but on disaggregating by region, we uncovered few divergences. In the Global South, women reported lower satisfaction with technology support than men, despite having similar levels of internet access. No gender differences in satisfaction with technology support were observed in the Global North, with women even reporting slightly better internet access than men. However, our strictest analyses found no gender differences in neither internet access nor satisfaction with technology support. Our findings support that the gender digital divide is not a homogenous phenomenon, that it appears differently in different places. Ground reality of women includes many intersecting constraints such as unpaid care burdens, mobility restrictions, and social norms that restrict their technology use. Without giving corresponding technology support, women would remain disadvantaged, preserving the gender gap. Access to technology should come along with culturally responsive training and support systems considering women's real-life challenges. Policymakers must recognize that bridging the second-level digital divide would require investments in social infrastructure along with the digital infrastructure.

Conflict Resolution Style and Psychological Gender-Based Violence in Karnataka, India

Matthijs Fakkel — 2026-04-25

Gender-based violence remains a pervasive public health challenge in India, with one in three women reporting some form of violence (National Family Health Survey-5, 2021). Addressing intimate partner violence is central to global development agendas, including Sustainable Development Goal 5, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls. Rates are particularly high in rural areas where gender norms, economic dependency, and limited institutional support constrain women’s agency in marital conflict. While structural and cultural determinants of gender-based violence have been widely studied, far less is known about how everyday conflict resolution behaviors within intimate partnerships may reinforce or reduce psychological violence. This pilot study examined the association between women’s conflict resolution styles and psychological gender-based violence in rural Karnataka as preparatory groundwork for a larger community intervention. Forty-two married women participating in local self-help groups completed structured interviews assessing four conflict resolution styles – problem solving, engagement, compliance, and withdrawal – along with psychological violence, mood symptoms, financial stress, and husbands’ alcohol use. Consistent with socio-ecological and feminist theories, conflict styles reflecting low power and relational disengagement were most strongly linked to psychological violence. Women who reported complying during conflict (e.g., yielding quickly, suppressing their perspective) or withdrawing (e.g., remaining silent, disengaging) experienced higher levels of psychological aggression. Engagement behaviors (e.g., escalating or becoming angry) showed a weaker and nonsignificant association. In contrast, constructive problem solving was not related to lower psychological violence, suggesting that cooperative strategies may have limited protective value when embedded within broader structural inequalities and gendered power dynamics. Contextual vulnerabilities provided additional nuance. Financial worries and mood difficulties, although prevalent, were not significantly associated with psychological violence, indicating that emotional or economic strain alone may not predict risk in this small sample. Husbands’ alcohol use showed expected directional patterns: daily consumption was linked to higher psychological violence, while occasional use showed a modest inverse association. These findings align with prior research identifying alcohol as a catalyst for escalation and highlight its relevance for future intervention components. Reporting of physical violence was rare, underscoring ongoing challenges in disclosure and the need to revisit sampling strategies, interviewer training, and culturally sensitive framing before scaling up. Overall, the pilot study demonstrates that conflict disengagement – rather than overt aggression – is most strongly associated with women’s exposure to psychological violence. These results support an intervention model that integrates conflict-resolution skill building with community-level norm change, institutional responsiveness, and targeted modules on alcohol use and emotional regulation. Insights from this pilot directly inform the design, sequencing, and theoretical grounding of the forthcoming multi-level intervention aimed at reducing gender-based violence in rural Karnataka.

From Stereotypes to Strategy: Addressing Gender Bias in AI-Powered Marketing

Caterina Fox — 2026-04-25

Gender stereotyping and discrimination have long been embedded in advertising and marketing practices. Although progress has been made, it remains slow and uneven. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly central to marketing, optimizing workflows and personalizing content, it also introduces new ethical risks. Algorithmic bias can reinforce existing social stereotypes and systematically disadvantage marginalized groups. This study investigates how marketing professionals perceive bias in AI applications and the strategies they employ to mitigate it. Drawing on qualitative expert interviews with communications managers from agencies and companies, our findings reveal a wide spectrum of awareness: while some view bias primarily as a reputational risk, others recognize it as a profound social issue. Inclusive communication is understood both as a moral obligation and a strategic choice yet often lacks institutional support or systematic evaluation mechanisms. Our analysis highlights that bias is not solely a technical flaw in data or models but can be structurally embedded in creative processes. Interviewees identify team diversity, collaborative feedback loops, critical prompting, and institutionalized spaces for reflection as key practices for fostering inclusivity. However, constraints such as limited time, budget, and organizational commitment frequently hinder consistent implementation. We argue that bias management must be integrated into a broader, ethically reflective marketing strategy. Only through the deliberate convergence of technical, creative, and ethical competencies can AI be harnessed to promote socially responsible and inclusive marketing.

A Competency Framework for Teachers to Support Gender-Fair and Inclusive Teaching

Guillaume Gronier — 2026-04-25

This paper presents the development of a competency framework aimed at supporting gender-fair and inclusive teaching. Drawing on research on educational justice, gender bias, and intersectionality, fairness is conceptualised as a multidimensional professional competence encompassing distributive, procedural, and interactional justice. The framework was developed through an iterative process combining literature review and collaborative work with researchers, teacher educators, teachers, and policy makers from several European countries. Initially structured around five domains of teachers’ work, it was subsequently expanded to include four additional domains addressing professional learning, institutional context, societal awareness, and external partnerships. By articulating fairness across classroom practices and broader educational environments, the framework provides a structured basis for research, teacher education, and the development of assessment tools grounded in authentic professional situations.

Workplace Values, Knowledge Gaps & Gender: Explaining German Adolescents’ Computer Science Career Choices

Claudia Hess — 2026-04-25

A persistent gender gap in computer science (CS) study choices and careers remains in Germany and internationally despite long-standing equality initiatives. Late adolescence is a key decision phase for academic and vocational pathways, making it critical to understand what drives young women and men toward or away from CS. This article reports findings from a 2024 survey of more than 800 German adolescents aged 15–20. The study examines gender differences in intentions to pursue CS across three domains: workplace values such as earnings or career prospects, perceptions of CS working conditions and potential structural barriers, and self-assessed knowledge of CS occupations. Findings show that young women and men have very similar expectations of their careers. Contrary to common stereotypes that men prioritise pay while women emphasize work–family balance, most value ratings are statistically similar with job security, career opportunities, and high salary at the top three positions. The exception is job security, which appears even more salient to young women. Comparing value profiles with perceived CS job characteristics indicates that adolescents of both genders rate CS consistently below their ideal job and that perceived female-specific barriers may further deter interest. These patterns are interpreted in the context of Germany’s digital transformation—marked by a shortage of skilled CS professionals and the anticipated automation of white-collar work through artificial intelligence. These narratives frame CS as both opportunity-rich and volatile, shaping expectations about job security, career advancement, and work–life balance. The study also documents information asymmetries: young women report significantly lower knowledge of CS careers than young men, which may hinder informed choices and pose an additional barrier beyond differences in interests or values. These insights underscore the importance of targeted interventions that provide accessible, accurate career information, demystify CS work and pathways, and address perceived barriers faced by young women.

Reinforcing Confidence? Gender Gaps in Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy in Finland

Sanna Joensuu-Salo — 2026-04-25

Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) - the belief in one’s ability to perform entrepreneurial tasks - is a well-established predictor of entrepreneurial entry, persistence, and outcomes (Chen et al., 1998; Zhao et al., 2005; Newman et al., 2019). A large body of research shows systematic gender gaps in ESE, with women consistently reporting lower entrepreneurial confidence than men (Wilson et al., 2007; Shinnar et al., 2012). Yet most evidence comes from Anglo-American contexts, while Nordic welfare states such as Finland, globally recognized for gender equality, remain understudied. Moreover, although ESE is often treated as an antecedent of entrepreneurial behavior, fewer studies examine how entrepreneurial experience itself may reinforce ESE, potentially creating a self-reinforcing cycle that disadvantages women. This study addresses these gaps by analyzing data from the 2025 Finnish Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Adult Population Survey (N = 2,050). We investigate how gender, age, household size, income, role model exposure, and business ownership predict ESE, and whether ownership mediates gender differences. Multinomial logistic regression results show that gender, age, role model exposure, and business ownership significantly predict ESE, while household size and income do not. Women are markedly less likely than men to report moderate (OR = 0.38, p < .001) or strong (OR = 0.67, p < .001) self-efficacy. Business ownership is the strongest predictor: owners are over three times more likely to report moderate ESE and more than eleven times more likely to report strong ESE compared to non-owners (p < .001). Bootstrapped mediation analysis further demonstrates that ownership partially mediates the gender gap: men are more likely to own businesses, and this experience significantly strengthens self-efficacy. While ESE clearly influences entrepreneurial entry, our findings also highlight the reverse pathway: entrepreneurial experience reinforces ESE (Markman et al., 2002). By situating Finland in global debates on gender and entrepreneurship, this study contributes new evidence from a high-equality context and underscores the dynamic interplay between self-belief and entrepreneurial experience. The results suggest that policy measures enabling women to gain entrepreneurial exposure early, even through small-scale or low-risk ventures, could help break the cycle in which lower ESE reduces entrepreneurial engagement and lack of experience further suppresses confidence.

Strategic Planning as a Mediator of Gender Differences in Environmental Responsibility

Emilia Kangas — 2026-04-25

This study examines whether strategic planning explains gender differences in environmental responsibility among owner-managers in small and medium-sized food sector enterprises. While prior research has produced mixed findings regarding gender and pro-environmental behavior, little is known about the managerial mechanisms through which such differences translate into firm-level sustainability practices. Drawing on survey data from 202 Finnish food sector SME owner-managers, the study employs hierarchical regression analysis and structural equation modelling with bias-corrected bootstrapping, controlling for firm size and entrepreneurial status. Initial regression results showed that men reported higher environmental responsibility than women (M = 4.26 vs. 3.72), but this effect became non-significant once strategic planning was included. In the SEM analysis, gender significantly predicted strategic planning (B = –0.504, p = .011), and strategic planning strongly predicted environmental responsibility (B = 0.484, p < .001). The indirect effect of gender on environmental responsibility through strategic planning was statistically significant (95% BC CI [–0.475, –0.054]), indicating full mediation. These findings suggest that gender differences in environmental responsibility are not primarily attitudinal but embedded in organizational decision-making systems. By identifying strategic planning as a mediating managerial capability, the study contributes to gender and sustainability research and highlights the importance of strengthening strategic capabilities to support environmentally responsible practices in SMEs.

The Construction of Gender Identities in Greek Children’s Graphic Novels

Theopoula (Lina) Karanikolaou — 2026-04-25

Graphic novels initially emerged as a genre primarily addressed to an adult audience, due to the complexity of their
thematic content, extensive textuality, and sophisticated visual narration. However their growing popularity and increasing
recognition as a form of high-quality reading have gradually facilitated their expansion into the field of children’s publishing.
Consequently children’s graphic novels have become an established and distinct category within contemporary children’s
literature. Recent research highlights their potential to engage young readers through the dynamic interaction of image and
text, while also supporting literacy development and reading motivation. Apart from their recreational value, graphic novels
have been increasingly acknowledged for their pedagogical applications, leading to their incorporation into primary and
secondary educational contexts. Similar to literature in general, graphic novels perform an important socializing function,
contributing to children’s understanding of themselves and the world around them, through identification with fictional
characters. In this regard, the fiction that children read can strongly influence the development of their gender identities, as
they often internalize gender roles and behaviors depicted in books as socially acceptable. This highlights the need for careful
and critical analysis of how gender is represented in children’s graphic novels. Building on the above discussion, the present
study investigates gender representations in Greek children’s graphic novels, focusing on the ways in which masculinity and
femininity are constructed and conveyed. The analysis examines two recent works, Stone (2023) and The Days When
There Is No School (2024), which were selected due to their contemporary publication and relevance within the field of
children’s graphic literature. A qualitative content analysis was applied in order to identify and interpret patterns of gender
representation across textual and visual elements. The findings indicate that although both books reflect a contemporary
aesthetic and a modern conceptualization of childhood—consistent with their recent publication—they nonetheless
continue, at times, to reproduce implicit stereotypical gender representations. These results indicate the persistence of
subtle gender norms even within recent and ostensibly progressive children’s books.

Gender Identities and Future Visions Across X and Y Generations: Experiences of Women Entrepreneurs

Annukka Koivuranta — 2026-04-25

This study examines how generational values shape women entrepreneurs’ discourses on entrepreneurship and the ways in which different age cohorts construct, negotiate and perform entrepreneurial identities within gendered social structures. Drawing on interviews with 24 women entrepreneurs from Generation X and Generation Y, the analysis explores how generational positioning influences narratives of agency, ambition and autonomy, as well as how women envision their entrepreneurial futures through five-year plans. The study conceptualises entrepreneurship as a discursive and identity-building space and employs a performative, relational view of gender to analyse how women articulate gender within a masculine-coded entrepreneurial field. Using the Appreciative Inquiry method, the study uncovers empowering dimensions of women’s experiences while revealing generational differences in interpretations of growth and gender. Generation Y emphasise autonomy, flexibility and self-development yet describe these ideals ambivalently, whereas Generation X entrepreneurs frame growth more pragmatically, prioritising stability, continuity and manageable workloads. The findings demonstrate how shifting cultural norms and sociohistorical contexts shape women’s entrepreneurial identities, highlighting the coexistence of post-feminist empowerment discourses with enduring gendered constraints and structural inequalities.

Narrating Feminist Survival: Deborah Levy’s A Living Autobiography

Sultan Komut Bakinç — 2026-04-25

Deborah Levy's writing often delves into the redefinition of artistic freedom and the re-envisioning of women's identity. Her autobiographical trilogy, Things I Don't Want to Know (2013), The Cost of Living (2018) and Real Estate (2021), provides a daring and poetic examination of female authorship, personal growth, and the continuous navigating of life as a woman. Writing against the grain of patriarchal expectations, Levy does not conform to inherited narratives of happiness linked to marriage, motherhood, and material success in what she calls A Living Autobiography; instead, she chooses to write from spaces of instability, ambiguity, and self-reinvention. Thus, the trilogy provides a literary representation of what Sara Ahmed refers to as "living a feminist life"; a never-ending, incomplete process of reconciling freedom, care, and authorship. In this regard, the trilogy can be regarded as a feminist statement that is consistent with the lived, affective politics discussed in Ahmed's Living a Feminist Life (2017). Using Ahmed's ideas of the feminist snap, the killjoy, and the feminist survival to analyze Levy's work, this study claims that rather than merely recounting a woman's personal account, Deborah Levy’s autofiction puts feminist philosophy into practice and becomes a vital contribution to contemporary feminist thought by showing how writing the self may also be an act of recovering narrative authority and changing feminist futures.

From Research Training to Labour Market Outcomes: Gender Disparities in Career Advancement and Knowledge Transfer among IIT Alumni

Cinzia Leone — 2026-04-25

Understanding how gendered expectations influence career trajectories in research and innovation is essential for creating an equitable scientific ecosystem. This paper presents an initial analysis of the career paths of alumni from the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), focusing on researchers who spent at least three years at IIT in the past fifteen years before moving on to positions in academia, entrepreneurship, or other scientific careers. The broader investigation adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative tracking of alumni outcomes with qualitative evidence from case studies and semi-structured interviews. This paper specifically draws on insights from the interview data to explore how gender, nationality, geographical distribution, and other social factors intersect in shaping post-IIT career opportunities and constraints. As IIT is a relatively young institution, this paper offers an initial examination of how its institutional practices and networks facilitate or hinder equal access to career opportunities, research funding, leadership positions, and business start-ups. The study also investigates knowledge transfer from IIT to broader ecosystems and examines how knowledge flows may be mediated by gendered patterns of recognition, collaboration, and access to resources. Initial findings indicate that while IIT provides a strong platform for research excellence and innovation, gendered expectations may still influence alumni career trajectories, particularly in relation to access to funding, research outputs, entrepreneurial risk-taking, and mobility choices. By linking alumni experiences and narrative accounts, the study provides a nuanced picture of the how research institutions contribute to gender equality in scientific careers. Additionally, it identifies institutional avenues to foster a more inclusive research and innovation environment.

Institutional and Administrative Determinants of Gender Disparities in Public Education: A Systematic Review

Pumla Glendale Paulette Luthuli — 2026-04-25

Gender disparities in public education remain a persistent governance challenge in South Africa, particularly in historically marginalized communities such as uMlazi Township. Despite progressive national policies aimed at promoting gender equality, the realities within public schools often reflect uneven implementation and limited institutional responsiveness. This study is informed by the need to understand the mechanisms behind persistent disparities and to contribute to the broader discourse on gender equity in education. Its relevance lies in its potential to inform policy, improve school governance, and promote inclusive educational practices. The study explored the persistent gender disparities in public education to inform future interventions on Umlazi Township. Despite formal commitments to equality, female learners continue to face barriers in academic performance, school retention, and leadership representation. The research is motivated by the observable disconnect between policy intentions and on-the-ground realities and aimed to uncover the institutional and administrative drivers that reinforce these disparities. A systematic review approach was adopted, collecting data from online databases and complemented by documentary analysis of school policies, performance reports, and government directives. A total of 17 studies were selected for review. Female students are significantly disadvantaged in the public education sector. Including the inconsistent application of policies by the government in public education, poor institutional governance and the poor institutional culture where female learners are subject to discrimination and violence. The data were analysed using a systematic literature review, specifically the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), by identifying key terms such as ‘gender disparities’ and ‘education’ to select relevant records. Insights from existing policy documents and institutional reviews suggest that while gender equity is formally endorsed, systemic gaps persist in areas such as staff training, policy enforcement, and support structures for female learners. Emerging themes point to the influence of entrenched institutional cultures, inconsistent policy application, and limited gender-sensitive planning at the school level. These factors inadvertently reinforce disparities in enrolment, retention, and academic performance. The key implications of the study are context-specific recommendations for strengthening gender-responsive governance in education, including inclusive policy reforms, targeted capacity-building, and enhanced community engagement. By critically examining the intersection of policy and practice, this research contributes to the broader discourse on equitable education systems and offers actionable insights for policymakers, school leaders, and civil society actors working to close the gender gap in South African public schools.

French Feminists and Intersectionality: Critical Perspectives

Chantal Maillé — 2026-04-25

During the 1990s, the mainstreaming of intersectional theory marked a paradigmatic shift in Anglo-American feminisms. This paper examines the engagement and critique of intersectionality by French feminists. It highlights the voices of French feminists who align with diverse factions of feminism and whose scholarly contributions address the complexities of difference among women in theoretical, research, and analytical contexts. Through their writings and insights gathered from a series of interviews, it becomes evident that the concepts and identity categories prevalent in French feminisms stem from specific theoretical frameworks of difference, with a distinct historical trajectory compared to the Anglo-American feminisms where intersectionality is predominantly emphasized. The analysis presented herein is informed by a literature review coupled with interviews conducted with a selection of scholars across various feminist trends, all residing in France and recognized for their significant contributions to the discourse on differences within French feminisms. These interviews, which were conducted in-person and recorded using a semi-structured questionnaire, were subsequently analyzed through thematic coding to extract common and salient themes. The findings of this analysis pinpoint three primary critiques of intersectionality articulated by the interviewees: (1) its foundation in predominantly Anglo-American contexts, (2) the prioritization of race-related issues modeled on the U.S. experience, and (3) a hegemonic framework that neglects concepts and analyses emerging from other contexts. Furthermore, the interview data illuminate the power dynamics that influence the construction of intersectionality. The anglicization of intersectionality has allowed this theoretical approach to take root in academia and normalize from an understanding that, although specific, is never clearly identified. The Anglophone identity, like many other dominant identities, goes unnoticed and remains invisible. The insights gathered through this research indicate that French feminists challenge the universalizing assertions of intersectionality, proposing alternative frameworks that resonate more closely with their intellectual heritage for understanding differences and systems of oppression. They ask for tools and theoretical approaches that are better aligned with the unique histories and cultural contexts from which they emerge.

Gendered Immigrant Experiences during COVID-19 in Canada

Veronika Makarova — 2026-04-25

This article examines the experiences of immigrant women and men from Ukraine during COVID-19 pandemic in
Canada. Previous research has documented consistent gender differences in healthcare in general and in COVID-19
experiences in particular. However, no prior studies have directly compared the COVID-19 experiences of immigrant women
and men within a single immigrant group, which is the focus of the present study. The study addresses two research
questions: (1) Did COVID-19 experiences by immigrants from Ukraine in Canada differ by gender? and (2) What patterns of
COVID-19 information access did immigrant women and men from Ukraine in Canada report, and did these patterns differ
by gender? The study is based on a survey that included 51 women and 24 men. Quantitative analysis of the survey
responses shows that women reported greater disruption of daily life due to COVID-19 and stronger fear that loved ones would
contract the disease. By contrast, the types of COVID-19–related information sought during the pandemic did not differ
significantly by gender. These findings have direct implications for healthcare, infectious-disease control, and massmedia
communication, highlighting the need for gender-specific approaches to information access and for genderdisaggregated
data to guide public-health messaging.

From Policy to Participation: Gendered Classroom Dynamics in Stem Higher Education

Luiza Marabyan — 2026-04-25

This article examines the discursive practice of gender equality policies within the classroom setting of higher education, and how gender equality operations influence the participation, engagement and access to educational and career directions of students, especially in STEM fields. With the applied linguistic approach, it explores the intersection of gender with other forms of social divisions, such as academic discipline, institutional status and linguistic background to determine how these factors can affect classroom dynamics in both technology-based and lecture-based university classes. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates student comments from the European University of Armenia and Yerevan State University with interactional and corpus-assisted analysis of classroom speech and critical discourse analysis of institutional gender-equality policy texts. In this way, both macro-level policy intentions and micro-level classroom interactions can be studied and allow understanding the holistic picture of how institutional directives are applied into the everyday teaching and learning practices. The article is aimed, in particular, at studying whether and how the inclusive policy language is implemented in classroom participation, authoritative and expertise negotiation, development of academic confidence and sense of belonging within students. The results indicate that there is an overlap that occurred over the years between the language of policy texts and the discursive realities of classrooms. In many ways, policies emphasize gender equity, but the dynamics in classroom often stifle subtle gendered and disciplinary hierarchies that define who speak, what is valued and how students see themselves as having the potential to participate in STEM disciplines. Compounded barriers to full engagement are frequently faced by non-native speakers, women and nontraditional students with regard to their enrollment status, which underscores the relevance of intersectional analysis. The article elucidates the primary place of language in mediating gender educational experiences. It puts forward intersectionally enlightened and linguistically focused pedagogical and policy practices that reflect the intricate relationship among identity, discipline, and classroom dynamics. The results show that meaningful equity in higher education cannot be achieved only by focusing on the design of the institutional policies but also by considering the daily interactions in which authority, participation and belonging are practiced.

Towards Gender Equity in Academia: Strategies and Tools for Universities

Stefania Marcassa — 2026-04-25

Gender inequality in academia persists through the interaction of implicit bias and structural barriers. We combine a gender–career Implicit Association Test (IAT) and survey responses from 863 academic and administrative staff across four European universities with document analysis of Gender Equality Plans (GEPs) and 12 semi-structured interviews. The IAT shows an implicit association of men with careers and women with family roles (mean D-score +0.38). Women report more gender-based discrimination and perceived male advantage in permanent contracts, desirable tasks, leadership roles, and informal networks. Regression results indicate that being a woman and endorsing traditional work–family values are robust correlates of higher IAT scores. Across institutions, GEPs commonly include mentoring, leadership development, gender-sensitive recruitment and promotion procedures, monitoring, and, in some cases, targets; effectiveness depends on visible leadership commitment, clear indicators and review cycles, adequate resources, and broad participation. We argue that progress requires pairing training and mentoring with procedural reforms at key career junctures (recruitment, promotion, workload allocation, and leadership selection). Limits include cross-sectional data and the behavioural scope of the IAT.

Who Decides? Reproductive Autonomy Among Married Rural Women in India: Evidence from 11 Villages

Drishti Marwaha — 2026-04-25

Reproductive autonomy is central to women’s health, rights, and gender equality, yet many married women in rural India continue to have limited authority over decisions related to childbearing and healthcare. While prior research has linked women’s autonomy to education, poverty, and social norms, fewer studies have examined how digital access, financial control, and collective participation intersect with structural disadvantage at the village level. This paper investigates the extent of reproductive decision-making autonomy among married rural women and examines its association with education, caste, economic vulnerability, digital use, financial control, and self-help group participation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 982 married women aged 18–49 years across 11 purposively selected villages in India. The questionnaire was structured using the Advancing Women’s Empowerment through Systems-Oriented Model Expansion (AWESOME) framework. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to analyse patterns of decision-making and associations with key socio-demographic and empowerment variables. Only 20.3% of respondents reported sole decision-making authority over childbearing, while 44% reported that husbands or in-laws were the primary decision-makers. Sole authority over healthcare visits was reported by 28.8% of women. Education and self-help group participation were positively associated with reproductive autonomy, while caste and economic vulnerability were associated with lower autonomy. The findings further show that household access to phones, homes, or bank accounts does not necessarily translate into women’s agency when independent control is absent. The paper contributes to gender research by showing that reproductive autonomy is shaped not only by household assets, but by the interaction of structural disadvantage, effective resource control, and collective support. The study argues that gender-transformative interventions must move beyond material provision toward strengthening women’s independent digital and financial control and expanding collective platforms that support negotiation and agency.

Gendered Effects of Robotisation on Job Quality

Dagmara Nikulin — 2026-04-25

This paper examines whether industrial robotisation is associated with gender-differentiated patterns in job quality across Europe. We combine individual-level data from the European Working Conditions Telephone Survey (EWCTS) 2021 with country–industry measures of robot exposure constructed from International Federation of Robotics (IFR) statistics. Job quality is captured along three dimensions—work intensity, physical risks, and autonomy—using harmonised EWCTS job-quality recodes. We estimate weighted logit models with individual and job controls as well as country and industry fixed effects, allowing robotisation effects to differ by gender through interaction terms. Overall, robot exposure is only weakly related to job-quality outcomes once controls and fixed effects are included. However, these associations are heterogeneous across dimensions: robotisation is associated with lower physical risks for both genders, a persistent female disadvantage in work intensity, and a narrowing gender gap in autonomy as robot exposure increases.

Educate, Connect, Employ: Closing Gender Gaps in the Global South

Precious Chidinma Nwachukwu — 2026-04-25

Digital technologies are broadly claimed as inclusive technologies enabling the eradication of various social and economic gaps. Our study builds on the hypothesis that growing cross-and within-country digitalization gradually mitigates multidimensional gender gaps of different backgrounds. According to worldwide statistics (WDI, 2025), developing countries severely suffer from gender inequalities (digital, educational and labor), which negatively affect developing economies` development due to keeping women as “overlooked resource” and being ignored as unpaid domestic labor. This work contributes providing evidence on gender gaps in educational and labor market dimensions; but also, by estimating cross-country inequalities in this regard. By estimating the size of gender gaps, we verify if growing digitalization contributes to gender gaps eradication at the country`s individual level in the group of low-income and lower-middle-income countries. We assess whether cross-country divides in terms of gender gaps are growing or diminishing. Using the World Bank (2025) data, we use the sample of 24 low-income and 46 lower-middle-income countries, in the period from 2000 to 2023. We use a panel dataset encompassing 9 variables – extracted from the World Development Indicators 2025, approximating women's and men's access to digital technologies, education and labor market, including composite indicators delivered by the United Nations Development Programme, approximating gender socio-economic discrimination.

Why Feminist Design Matters for GenAI: Perspectives from Lusophone Innovation Ecosystems

Amanda Oliveira — 2026-04-25

This paper examines professionals’ perceptions of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and its impact on innovation ecosystems in Brazil and Portugal through a feminist and intersectional design lens. It explores how GenAI shapes work experiences, gender dynamics, and organizational practices, highlighting both perceived opportunities and structural challenges across diverse roles and identities. The study addresses the tension between AI’s technological promise, often framed in terms of efficiency, creativity, and innovation, and its implications for equity, diversity, and inclusion in professional contexts. This inquiry is grounded in systemic conditions: AI development remains dominated by a narrow demographic whose assumptions and values are embedded in technological systems, while biased datasets and workplace automation risk reproducing inequalities and widening gendered skill gaps. Empirically, the research draws on 23 semi-structured interviews with cisgender and transgender women and men, as well as non-binary professionals working with AI-driven tools in Brazil and Portugal. Using thematic analysis informed by feminist and intersectional design frameworks, the findings reveal a complex landscape. Participants recognized GenAI’s potential to streamline processes and support innovation, while also expressing concerns about the reproduction of hierarchical power relations and the superficiality of many corporate diversity initiatives. The results reinforce that GenAI is not a neutral technology, but a sociotechnical construct embedded in existing power structures. Its deployment can either reinforce systemic disparities or contribute to more equitable innovation ecosystems. The paper offers guidance on the responsible use of GenAI, grounded in feminist design principles and emphasizing ethical practice and inclusive governance.

Compassion, Volunteering, and Charitable Giving in Wartime Ukraine: A Gender Analysis

Oleksandr Ostrovik — 2026-04-25

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has created suffering and destruction, but also catalyzed displays of compassion among civilians. In 2023, Ukraine was reported to have a record high annual growth in charitable activities and was ranked second globally according to the World Giving Index. This study focuses on the gender differences in compassion for those affected by war and the association between compassion, volunteering, and charitable giving in Ukraine after the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine War. The study used a cross-sectional design and employed an online survey method, conducted between September and October 2023. A total of 170 respondents took part in the study; the age range was 18 to 69 years, and the majority were female (72.9%). Participants completed measures of volunteering, charitable giving, compassion for war-affected individuals, and the standardized compassion for others (SCBCS) questionnaire. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlations, and Mann–Whitney U tests. Women reported higher levels of compassion for others (p = .002, r_s = –.24) and for those who were affected by war than men (p = .008, r_s = –.20). No significant gender differences were found between those who participated in volunteering activities and charitable giving. Among those who volunteered, both women (Md = 5) and men (Md = 5) reported a similar amount of monthly volunteering time (p = .673). Compassion for others but not compassion for war-affected individuals was significantly associated with the amount of volunteering hours (r_s = .23). The findings suggest that despite the differences in compassion levels between genders in wartime Ukraine, both men and women display similar involvement in volunteering activities and charitable giving. Compassion for others may play an important role in civic engagement.

‘I Don't Want Someone to Speak on my Behalf’, Co-designing Relationship Education Resources with Pupils in Special Educational Needs Schools

Janette Porter — 2026-04-25

This paper draws on the authors’ experience of working with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) school pupils on a research project about domestic abuse and healthy relationships. The focus is on work with pupils in four SEND schools. Disabled women in the UK are more than twice as likely to experience domestic abuse compared to women who are not disabled. The abuse they face usually lasts for a longer period and with greater severity. Research shows that school staff are often reluctant to talk with disabled young people about relationship education and relationship abuse. This means pupils’ views and opinions often go unheard and undervalued. Pupils with SEND needs can be particularly vulnerable to abusive relationships, so a focus on friendships and healthy relationships and how this impacts on emotional wellbeing is important in teaching relationship and sex education (RSE). Teaching RSE became compulsory in UK schools in 2020. The paper considers how creative methodologies can be used in the classroom to listen to and respect the voices of pupils and to ensure that their participation is integral to research. It explores how creative research methods can be adapted to diverse participants, including those with SEND requirements, in particular, pupils with visually and sensory impairments, to enable the creation of a co-designed resource on relationship education. There is increasing recognition of the need for a whole school approach to prevent gender-based violence, and the need to equip school staff to feel more confident teaching relationship education to SEND pupils. However, there is little research on how effective current resources are for pupils with disabilities. This paper demonstrates the importance of co-designed resources tailored specifically for use by pupils with disabilities to learn about domestic abuse and healthy relationships.

An Inquiry into the Socio-Political and Economic Challenges of Women Entrepreneurs in Pakistan through the Lens of Feminist and Achievement Theories

Muhammad Azeem Qureshi — 2026-04-25

The role of women’s entrepreneurship in achieving a gender-inclusive society and economic growth is undeniable. However, women entrepreneurs in Pakistan, despite several supporting initiatives by the government and NGOs, continue to face numerous socio-political and economic challenges, hindering their participation in business activities. This study aims to uncover these multifaceted challenges and the strategies to overcome them. Drawing on Liberal Feminist Theory and McClelland’s Need for Achievement Theory, this qualitative, phenomenological study captures the voices of 36 women entrepreneurs across major metropolitan cities in Pakistan. Findings reveal that participants struggle with entrenched patriarchal norms, gender discrimination, limited mobility, restricted access to finance, and other barriers. Despite these constraints, they demonstrate resilience through networking, mentoring, skill enhancement strategies, social media engagement, and innovative business practices. This study sheds light on how women entrepreneurs transform adversity into opportunity, offering valuable insights for policymakers and scholars seeking to promote gender equity and entrepreneurial inclusivity in emerging economies.

Sex Work in Peru: Social Challenges, Regulatory Framework, and Economic Contributions

Lilian Lissett Requejo Napan — 2026-04-25

Sex work in Peru lies at the intersection of public health, labour rights and legal regulation, in a context marked by
stigmatization and regulatory gaps. This study explores, in a qualitative and narrative manner, the available evidence on the
main social challenges, the regulatory framework, and the potential economic contributions of sex work in the country, based
on secondary academic and institutional sources published between 2019 and 2025 in Spanish and English. Through a
narrative analysis of scientific literature and regulatory documents, patterns, tensions and thematic gaps related to the issue
were identified. The findings show that most research focuses on the health sector and reveals barriers to accessing services,
experiences of violence and stigmatization processes, as well as the persistent regulatory ambiguity surrounding the practice.
The economic dimension is based mainly on international comparative studies and grey literature, revealing a scarcity of
verifiable local estimates. Overall, the review suggests that sex work in Peru poses multidimensional challenges that demand
informed public policy responses, with an emphasis on human rights, health, and progressive regulation. This article offers
narrative and analytical inputs useful for authorities and social organizations, as well as a research agenda aimed at
strengthening understanding of this complex phenomenon.

Narrative Study of Sexual Violence Impacts on Indigenous Girls in Peru

Lilian Lissett Requejo Napan — 2026-04-25

This article presents a qualitative narrative analysis of the mental health of girls and adolescents who are survivors of sexual violence in Peru, based on academic literature and policy documents reviewed between 2019 and 2024. The objective is to identify the main psychological consequences, barriers to accessing care services, and sociocultural determinants that influence institutional revictimization. Fifteen academic and institutional sources were reviewed and organized thematically for analysis. The findings reveal severe trauma such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, along with fragmented care pathways that perpetuate revictimization. Factors such as poverty, rural environments, cultural practices, and institutional weakness limit the effective protection of girls' rights. In Amazonian indigenous communities, such as Awajún and Wampís, territorial inequality, language barriers, and the absence of the state exacerbate vulnerability and hinder access to mental health care and justice. The study is based on a human rights and trauma-sensitive approach that recognizes girls as subjects of law and promotes coordinated and culturally relevant institutional responses. From feminist perspectives, sexual violence is understood as a mechanism of patriarchal and macho control (Kelly, 1988; Herman, 1992), reinforced by rape culture, which normalizes these attacks and reinforces impunity (Buchwald, Fletcher & Roth, 1993). Intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989) allows us to analyze how gender, age, ethnicity and territory intersect in the experience of survivors, showing that sexual violence cannot be addressed solely from universal frameworks. This work provides narrative and analytical inputs for the formulation of public policies centred on human rights, sensitive to trauma and respectful of cultural diversity. It highlights the urgent need to strengthen intersectoral coordination, design culturally relevant interventions and promote a research agenda that evaluates existing practices and reduces institutional revictimization.

Women’s Experiences of Work and Leadership in Mexico: Structural and Emotional Barriers Across Sectors

Iskra Rodriguez — 2026-04-25

Women remain underrepresented in senior roles in Mexico despite important progress in education and labour-market participation. Research on gender and work has often examined structural barriers in organizations and labour markets separately from emotional barriers such as self-doubt or fear of failure. Drawing on Acker’s concept of gendered organizations, this paper explores how these barriers come together in women’s experiences of work and leadership in Mexico. The study uses data from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2024–2025 with 1,020 professional women from education, health, financial services, technology, retail, and other sectors. Participants held roles ranging from early-career positions and entrepreneurship to middle management, directorships, and senior executive positions. The survey included socio-demographic questions, a checklist of emotional obstacles reported as either already overcome or not yet overcome, and open-ended questions about relevant workplace experiences. The findings show that women frequently report self-doubt, fear of failure, pressure linked to traditional family expectations, work-care tensions, and the need to constantly prove competence in male-dominated environments. Several of these obstacles appear in both response categories, suggesting that they do not simply disappear but often return at different moments in a woman’s career. Age comparisons indicate that self-doubt and fear of failure are more common among younger respondents, while qualitative responses show that senior women also continue to face isolation, bias, and work-family tensions. The paper contributes evidence from Mexico to the gender and work literature by showing that structural and emotional barriers are closely connected. It also suggests that leadership-development efforts should move beyond a “fix the woman” approach and pay more attention to organizational culture, evaluation systems, and support structures.

Gender Stereotypes in Nonprofit Governance: The Case of Nonprofit Sports Organisations

Gina Rossi — 2026-04-25

This study addresses the issue of a “lack of diversity” in nonprofit sports organisations, where gender stereotypes influence social expectations regarding who should hold leadership positions. By reflecting normative notions of femininities and masculinities and disseminating generalised opinions about what men and women are like, gender stereotypes often contribute to discrimination and prejudice. According to gender role congruence theory, leadership traits such as assertiveness and individualism are considered masculine and incompatible with female gender role traits, which are expected to be collaborative and sensitive. As a consequence, women face more barriers than men when climbing organisational hierarchies. The nonprofit sector is not immune from gender stereotypes that can limit women’s access to governing boards. This paper uses the lens of gender role congruence theory to explore the relationship between gender and governance in the domain of nonprofit sports organisations. Although sports do not have inherent gender characteristics, gender stereotypes often operate in this field, resulting in women being underrepresented on boards. The aim of the study is answering the following questions: To what extent are women represented on nonprofit boards? How likely are they to reach leadership positions (e.g. president) on the board? Does women’s representation vary according to the sport that nonprofits focus on? The findings confirm that, on average, board membership and leadership are still skewed towards men. Nonprofit sports organisations have more men than women in their boardrooms. Women are less likely than men to hold the position of president/chairperson of a nonprofit sports organisation. When sports are classified according to gender stereotypes (e.g. softball and volleyball are considered female sports; rugby and baseball are identified as male sports; swimming and running are neutral sports that can be played by both genders), women hold the majority of board and president positions only in nonprofits that focus on female sports.

When Women Athletes Speak: How Activism Shapes Brand Attitudes and Purchase Intent

Chiara Schmid — 2026-04-25

Sport shapes everyday routines and identities while serving as a stage for community-building and political expression. As the sector expands and social media amplifies campaigns, brands like Nike, Adidas, Puma, and New Balance command vast cultural reach and face intensified scrutiny of their value-driven messaging. Athlete activism is now a visible feature of this landscape, yet reactions are polarized. Gender magnifies this divide. Female athletes who advocate for pay equity, bodily autonomy, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and protection from abuse often face disproportionate skepticism and gendered backlash, even when celebrated in marquee campaigns (e.g., Serena Williams). These double standards pose strategic and ethical questions for sponsors: Does endorsing female athlete activism strengthen or jeopardize brand attitudes and purchase intentions across consumer groups? Despite rising commentary, rigorous evidence on consumer responses to female-led activism remains limited, which is an important gap for marketers engaging digitally savvy, values-oriented audiences. This study examines how female athlete activism shapes consumer responses to sponsoring brands. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior, Elaboration Likelihood Model and Social Identity Theory, it was hypothesized that featuring activist female athletes in brand communications would enhance brand attitudes and purchase intentions. A cross-sectional online survey of a culturally diverse sample (n = 112) assessed consumers’ brand attitudes and purchase intentions in the context of campaigns featuring female athletes engaged in activism. Results indicate that female athlete activism positively influences both outcomes. Contrary to common assumptions, moderation tests show that respondent gender and purchase-decision involvement do not significantly condition these effects. The findings extend research on activism in sport marketing by centering consumer responses to female athletes—a group that has historically faced gendered scrutiny—and by demonstrating that activism can generate favorable evaluations across consumer segments. Practically, the results suggest that brands can integrate female athlete activism into campaigns to strengthen brand evaluations and purchase intentions without differential risk across genders or involvement levels, while also contributing to more inclusive social narratives around women in sport.

Tackling the Generic Masculine: Evaluating Gender Neutrality of German AI-Generated Texts

Jasmin Schmidt — 2026-04-25

When using large language models (LLMs)—artificial intelligence (AI) systems trained to generate and interpret human language—gender-specific biases in AI-generated text represent a key challenge. Particularly in grammatically gendered languages such as German, this often results in texts outputs using the so-called generic masculine as an allegedly gender neutral default form. Consequently, generated text is neither neutral nor inclusive, and gender stereotypes are perpetuated. Organizations seeking to offer LLM-based systems that generate inclusive language by default typically rely on system prompts or specific model configurations to steer the model’s responses. However, for German, methods for automatically, systematically, and objectively assessing whether such approaches enhance gender neutrality and inclusivity remain limited and underexplored. To address this gap, a framework was developed that applies the concept of LLM-as-a-judge. This approach involves using an LLM to systematically evaluate the outputs of another, thereby enabling automated and replicable assessments of features such as gender neutrality and inclusivity. The paper presents the development and evaluation of a prototype of this framework, designed specifically for German, following a Design Science Research approach. Using the framework, the effectiveness of configurations or system prompts can be evaluated. To enable this in a systematic and replicable manner, a catalogue of 150 prompts in German was developed, adapting and extending approaches from other languages. The outputs generated by an LLM in response to these prompts are then assessed by an evaluation module: Linguistic analysis identifies gendered forms and grammatical structures, while scoring metrics quantify the degree of gender neutrality and inclusivity. To demonstrate the framework, it was applied in several test runs using an iteratively developed system prompt designed to elicit gender neutral responses. The resulting metrics allowed assessment of whether a given prompt effectively enhances the neutrality of generated outputs and reduces gender-specific bias. Potential applications of the framework in organisational settings, as well as its relevance for the development of responsible AI systems, are outlined.

Cultivating Belonging, Agency and Biodiversity: Transformative Learning in a Women*-Led Community Garden

David Steinwender — 2026-04-25

This paper examines community gardens as socio-material learning environments that enable transformative learning under conditions of social inequality. Drawing on a participatory action research case study from the Horizon Europe project PLANET4B in Graz, Austria, we analyse the co-creation of a women*-led community garden (GAIA Gartenberg) within the framework of a Bio-/Diverse Edible City. The initiative involved women* experiencing intersecting forms of marginalisation and was intentionally designed as an inclusive, low-threshold, and care-oriented learning space. Building on transformative learning theory and informed by feminist STS perspectives, the analysis traces how learning emerged through relational, affective, and embodied practices rather than solely through cognitive knowledge transfer. Empirically, the paper reconstructs the gradual formation of a learning community through phases of contextualisation, trust-building, experiential co-creation, and the transition toward collective stewardship. Participatory and arts-based methods enabled participants to engage with biodiversity and diversity as lived and situated concerns embedded in everyday practices such as gardening, food, and collective decision-making. The findings highlight the central role of facilitation, brave spaces, and supportive institutional conditions in fostering agency, belonging, and response-ability. We argue that community gardens, when understood as socio-material infrastructures rather than solely as food-producing sites, can support transformative learning processes that connect personal change with broader socio-ecological transformation, while remaining highly context-dependent.

A Viral Moment that Made History: Gendered Reactions to a Spontaneous Event at a Coldplay Concert

Rūta Tamošiūnaitė — 2026-04-25

The fairness of gender representation in media remains a strong concern in contemporary public debate and is visible in scholarship. This paper presents a case study examining a spontaneous social phenomenon that unfolded on 16 July 2025, during a Coldplay concert, when the romantic relationship between a male company CEO and a female head of human resources—colleagues of comparable social, marital, and professional backgrounds—was unexpectedly revealed in public. The event, entirely unplanned and unmediated, rapidly went viral, generating vast amounts of user-generated content (UGC) and embedding itself into popular culture. Due to its exceptional virality and enduring cultural resonance, it can be regarded as a historical moment in the post-digital sphere, exemplifying how gendered narratives are constructed, amplified, and memorialised online. This study employs a quantitative content analysis of Instagram posts related to the event, complemented by qualitative reflections that illuminate underlying attitudes and symbolic gender framings. This mixed approach enables both the systematic mapping of engagement patterns and the interpretive understanding of how users ascribe meaning and moral value to male and female figures in comparable circumstances. Findings show that, despite the protagonists’ similar social and professional standing, gendered asymmetries persist in public perception. The male figure was frequently represented through narratives of leadership, charisma, and professional success, while the female counterpart was disproportionately subjected to moral judgment, emotional stereotyping, and scrutiny of personal integrity. The study concludes that spontaneous viral events such as this offer unique insight into unfiltered digital storytelling, revealing how collective narratives of gender continue to reproduce structural inequalities even in seemingly organic contexts. As part of a broader research project on storytelling for gender equality, this paper contributes to understanding how viral, unscripted events both reflect and shape contemporary gender discourse in online culture.

Imagining Otherwise: Atwoodian Dystopias, Gender, and Narrative Imagination

Valerija Vendramin — 2026-04-25

This contribution examines how fiction can foster both imaginative engagement and critical reflection on social structures. I focus on (1) narrative imagination, as conceptualized by M. Nussbaum, i.e., the capacity to enter the experiences of others through literature, and (2) utopia/dystopia, understood as a narrative experiment that imagines “what could be otherwise.” Looking into segments of Margaret Atwood’s utopian/dystopian works (The Handmaid’s Tale and the first part of the MaddAddam trilogy, Oryx and Crake), I investigate how Atwood’s works cultivate empathy while simultaneously prompting critical reflection on power, oppression, and social inequality. Atwood’s characterization of her novels as “speculative” rather than science fiction, grounded in extrapolations from existing realities, might encourage readers to more easily connect the imaginative scenarios with their own moral and social worldviews. I foreground selected moments that bring gendered power dynamics into sharper view. I also engage with critiques of narrative imagination that highlight both its limitations and its potential to reproduce, rather than disrupt, existing social hierarchies. This is why I introduce the concept of posthumanist reading as a way to move beyond humanism and anthropocentrism, and as a suggestion for rethinking interpretative practices through a decentred, more-than-human perspective. A further dimension of this reflection is its pedagogical application. I explore how Atwood’s work can be incorporated into classroom practice across literary and civic education. Key questions include: how can students be encouraged to inhabit the experiences of women living under patriarchal or otherwise oppressive structures? How does imaginative engagement with dystopian worlds challenge readers’ ethical, political, and gendered understandings? What are the benefits and challenges of teaching gender through utopian/dystopian literature? I conclude by positioning Atwoodian dystopias as a compelling site for exploring the interplay of narrative strategies and social possibilities.

Gender and the Perception of the Dark Side of Entrepreneurship: Associations with Self-Efficacy and Entrepreneurial Intentions

Julita Wasilczuk — 2026-04-25

Research on entrepreneurship increasingly recognizes the need to understand its psychological, ethical, financial,
and social costs. This study investigates how gender role orientation (GRO) relates to perceptions of two dimensions of the
dark side of entrepreneurship: financial and structural burdens, and work-life and emotional imbalance, as well as to
entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial intentions. Data were collected from 721 final-year university
students in Poland. The dark side dimensions were measured using an instrument developed for this study, informed by
prior work on negative entrepreneurial experiences; other constructs were assessed with validated scales. Results show that
masculine GRO is positively associated with ESE and entrepreneurial intentions, whereas feminine GRO relates positively
only to ESE. Feminine GRO is also linked to stronger perceptions of both dark side dimensions, while masculine GRO is weakly
and negatively related to financial and structural burdens. These findings indicate the importance of presenting
entrepreneurship in a gender-neutral way and of specific elements of dark side of entrepreneurship within entrepreneurship
education.

Unpacking Unequal Pay at Mid-Life: Evidence from the British Cohort Studies

David Wilkinson — 2026-04-25

The gap between men’s and women’s hourly pay in the UK has diminished over time, while peaking in mid-life for successive cohorts. Does this peak adjusted for gender differences in individual and job characteristics signify a female pay penalty? Is any penalty confined to mothers? We compare employees in two British Birth Cohorts (NCDS and BCS70) aged 42 in 2000 and 2012. Components of the pay gap, derived from regressions of male and female pay, are constructed using Oaxaca’s method. Women’s education and experience gains helped narrow the later pay gap, but an unexplained component remained, even after allowing for job characteristics. The unexplained gap was not confined to parents, though wider than for others. Mothers gained little from prior experience in part-time work and faced low pay in current part-time jobs in particular occupations. Results suggest policies should address women’s low bargaining power generally besides targeting mothers’ low pay.

Professional Women in Japanese Television Commercials: A Data-Driven Study

Urszula Frey — 2026-04-25

This research examines how representations of professional women in Japanese television commercials have changed over time, from 1985 to 2005. The study adopts a data-driven approach in which information about commercials is recorded and stored in a structured database. Digital humanities and statistical methods are used to identify hidden biases and obtain insights that may not be immediately noticeable through simple viewing and qualitative analysis of the commercials. The aim of this research is to identify the factors linking gender and employment and to examine how these factors shape the representation of female professionals. The analysis focuses on commercials that received the All Japan Radio & Television Commercial Confederation Award (ACC Awards). The ACC awarded commercials are chosen for their impact and availability. The commercials are first viewed and then systematically described using a structured data format. The dataset records what characters do, where they act, and how they are represented in each commercial. The resulting data are stored in a database from which samples can be extracted, based on which several statistical models are constructed. By examining the variables of these models, the relative importance of different factors can be evaluated. The analysis shows that during the 1980s foreign women had a higher probability of being represented as professionals. In this period, the variable “ethnicity” had greater weight than factors such as age. By constructing similar models for different periods, it becomes possible to observe how these patterns evolved over time. For example, during the 1990s ethnicity lost much of its influence as Japanese women increasingly appeared as professionals. However, these portrayals were still often associated with young age and were frequent when not in presence of a man. By identifying the biases underlying these representations and tracing their evolution over time, the study will provide new insights into how professional women have been portrayed in Japanese television advertising.

Conditional Female Agency in Chinese Media: Intersecting Gender, Class, and Consumerism

Yilin Gao — 2026-04-25

Post-socialist China provides a paradoxical context for women, where economic independence is promoted even as traditional gender norms endure, shaped by class stratification and consumerist values. Drawing on intersectional feminist theories (Crenshaw, McRobbie, Banet-Weiser), this paper analyses the 2017 TV series The First Half of My Life by tracing protagonist Luo Zijun’s transformation from dependent housewife to “independent” professional through character dialogue, visual semiotics of costume and setting, and cultural context. The analysis shows how the series frames female empowerment through neoliberal ideals of consumption, professional self-reinvention, and class-based mobility, while Zijun’s apparent success remains profoundly conditional. Her ascent depends on class privilege and elite social capital, which undercuts the narrative of self-made agency. Juxtaposing Zijun with her professional friend and working-class sister further reveals how patriarchal expectations cut across class, while meaningful upward mobility remains tied to elite networks. Overall, the study argues that the series simultaneously critiques patriarchy and endorses commodified, consumer-driven notions of empowerment, challenging simplistic empowerment narratives and demonstrating how female agency in contemporary Chinese media is shaped by class-based conditions.

The Influence of Role Models on Career Path Selection in STEM

Emilia Bobrowicz — 2026-04-25

This study explored the impact of role models on students' career path selection at technical universities, using Gdańsk University of Technology (GUT) in Poland as an example. It examined how both role models and anti-role models shape students’ career decisions during early career-path stages in secondary school and throughout their university education, as well as the reasoning behind students’ career choices. To do so, the authors conducted a qualitative, exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews with 64 GUT students (four men and four women from each of the eight GUT faculties). The results showed that the impact of role models on young people’s career path selection changes as the path progresses, from helping establish goals in the earlier stages to becoming a source of knowledge and skills during university studies. Furthermore, although others’ suggestions were among the most cited reasons for choosing a study, students were reluctant to admit to others’ influence. So, we observed a bias: students declared full self-independence in career path selection, stating that they were primarily motivated by intrinsic factors, especially their own interests, while at the same time reporting influencers who supported their choices. So, it means that students' need for independence is extreme, and it can be a source of bias. Furthermore, students who admitted being influenced by others were most likely to follow in the footsteps of family members, mostly fathers, either working in a similar field or having completed the same major. However, later during their studies at GUT, students became more influenced by their professors than by their family, shifting the focus from perceived closeness and relatability to their role models’ teaching prowess. No significant gender differences were detected in the motivations behind the choice of study, with female and male respondents showing similar likelihood of being influenced by a role model. However, male respondents seemed more likely to be positively affected by interactions with role models, while female respondents were more likely to be negatively affected by anti-role models. Students have reported being impacted by a male 2.25 times more often than by a female. This suggests that, regarding the development of STEM careers, females need not be discouraged, while males need to be inspired. Educational institutions can use the findings of this research to enhance their academic offerings, improve the efficiency of teaching methods, maximize learning outcomes, and improve communication with students. However, further research is required to make findings universally applicable.

Widowhood as Social Discipline: An Anthropological Reading of Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dor

Shreya Das — 2026-04-25

When a spouse passes away in India, the onus of sacrifice and suffering is imposed upon a widow more than a widower. This gender discrimination in the context of widowhood sheds light on the systematic normalization of misogyny in a society. Cultural texts such as cinema often capture these dynamics with sensitivity, revealing how social norms operate through everyday gestures and spaces. This paper explores the cultural, affective, and political dimensions of Hindu widowhood through an anthropological reading of the film Dor (2006), directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. By examining the film’s narrative and visual language, the study investigates how widowhood becomes a gendered obligation and how mourning is converted into a regime of social discipline. The paper employs a cinematic reading informed by perspectives from social and cultural anthropology. Rather than treating the film simply as a narrative text, the qualitative analysis approaches it as a cultural document that reflects lived social practices. I examine the plot, key scenes, dialogues, silences, gestures, and soundscapes of Dor to understand how widowhood reorganizes a widow’s everyday life through her body, appearance, speech, and movement within domestic and community spaces. This interpretive approach places the film in conversation with anthropological debates on kinship, embodiment, multisensory culture, and gendered discipline. The analysis shows that widowhood in Dor is portrayed not merely as a private emotional state but as a culturally produced social condition. Although mourning is observed by the family, the burden of sacrifice falls primarily on the widow. The film illustrates how widowhood is enacted through everyday practices such as changes in clothing, bodily presentation, and restrictions on diet, speech and movement. These practices regulate the widow’s sensory and social world, transforming her identity within the household and community. Simultaneously, the narrative introduces moments where these disciplinary structures begin to loosen. Through encounters between women and the emergence of empathy and solidarity, the film opens spaces where the widow’s life can be imagined differently. The findings suggest that widowhood should be understood as a culturally produced institution sustained through ritual discipline, sensory regulation, and kinship control. Yet the film also demonstrates that these structures are not entirely fixed. Through friendship, affective bonds, and acts of moral courage, there lies the possibility of transformation within restrictive social systems. Reading Dor as a form of cinematic ethnography therefore reveals how cultural representation can illuminate the lived complexities of widowhood while simultaneously questioning the norms that sustain it. The film ultimately encourages us to reconsider widowhood not as an immutable tradition but as a contested social practice that remains open to change.

Gendering Science Diplomacy: A Feminist Critique of Science, Technology and Innovation Systems

Sofia Martins — 2026-04-25

Science and technology occupy a central place in contemporary societies, shaping economic development, public policy, and international affairs. Far from being external to politics, they are deeply entangled with power dynamics, informing governance structures and shaping whose knowledge is recognized as legitimate. This entanglement becomes particularly visible at the intersection between science and international relations, where scientific authority and diplomatic action increasingly overlap. While science diplomacy has traditionally been portrayed as a cooperative and technical instrument oriented toward trust-building and the provision of global public goods, more recent approaches emphasize its strategic and competitive dimensions. Although these perspectives acknowledge the political character of science, they tend to overlook how inequalities internal to science, technology, and innovation (STI) systems structure international engagement. In particular, the persistent underrepresentation of women in senior scientific roles, technological sectors, and international advisory bodies raises questions about whose expertise circulates globally and whose authority is institutionalized in diplomatic arenas.
Therefore, this article asks: how do gendered hierarchies within STI systems shape science diplomacy? Drawing on a feminist epistemological framework grounded in strong objectivity, situated knowledges, and reflexivity, the paper argues that gender is not an external normative concern but a constitutive dimension of science diplomacy. By examining the three dimensions of science diplomacy—science in diplomacy, diplomacy for science, and science for diplomacy—the analysis demonstrates how inequalities in access, authority, and representation are reproduced in international settings. At a time when the neutrality and universality of science are increasingly questioned, the article contends that epistemic concern is a structural condition for the legitimacy and effectiveness of science diplomacy in global governance.

What Makes a Modern Man? Masculinity, Morality, and Nationhood in Late-Monarchical Egypt

Sofia Kryvosheieva — 2026-04-25

A critical analysis of masculinities is essential for understanding how power is gendered and legitimised through male-coded social norms. While Egyptian nationalism and state-building process have been extensively studied through political and religious lenses, their gendered foundations remain less explored. The primary aim of this research is to analyse how masculinity was constructed, represented, and contested within the Egyptian effendiyya class between 1936 and 1952 – a period that witnessed key shifts in political radicalisation and ideological formation, laying the basis for the post-revolutionary ideal of manhood and nationhood. The effendiyya – students, civil servants, doctors, modern-educated elites – located between traditional aristocracy and popular classes. By the 1930s, a younger and more radical generation of effendiyya had emerged. Their militancy was fuelled by widespread unemployment, political stagnation, and deepening economic crises and directly translated to their image of the ideal citizen. The project draws on Critical Studies on Men and Masculinities (Connell 2005) and postcolonial theory (Stoler 2002) approaching masculinity as both a discursive construct and a lived practice. It combines discourse analysis with archival research to examine Arabic-language press, memoirs, and educational manuals – many of them rarely studied – to trace how ideals of manhood circulated across institutional and popular settings. The focus on print media reflects its central role in effendiyya identity formation. As editors, readers, and contributors, members of this class actively used the press to debate moral, national, and gender ideals. The study analyses three interconnected arenas: (1) tarbiya (upbringing) and formal education as spaces where civic and moral expectations for boys were codified; (2) the male body as a site of health, discipline, militarism, and desire; and (3) Islamic models of manhood reinterpreted within nationalist and modernist frameworks. The ongoing research examines how masculinity served both anti-colonial resistance and authoritarian state-building. It expands Critical Studies on Men and Masculinities by analysing hegemonic masculinity in a specific context, beyond the usual focus on masculinity crisis or violence.

A Feminist Discourse Analysis of Chinese Female Stand-Up Comedians'

Zichen Zhang — 2026-04-25

The rapid development of internet technology has provided a platform for marginalized groups to voice dissent and reshape cultural narratives (Liao, 2019), particularly offering new opportunities for women to achieve self-expression in public discourse. The advent of stand-up comedy in China has led to the emergence of stand-up comedians as a prominent force within the Chinese comedy landscape. Online media has become the primary channel for the dissemination, viewing, and discussion of stand-up comedy in China (Li and Guo, 2024), especially among millennials, where the online stand-up comedy competition program Rock & Roast has garnered widespread attention (Xu and Liu, 2024). Female stand-up comedians participating in the program have garnered significant attention for addressing issues of gender inequality and discrimination in a humorous yet incisive manner (Meng and Literat, 2023). While their performances have ignited a new wave of feminist discourse on social media, they also face pressure from the general public, who are accustomed to traditional gender norms, and from censorship systems (Li and Guo, 2024; Meng and Literat, 2023; Meng, 2024; Zhang and Zhou, 2023). This reflects the tension between progressive feminist expression and deeply entrenched patriarchal structures.This study will utilize feminist critical discourse analysis (Lazar, 2007, 2014) to explore how Chinese female stand-up comedians respond to and negotiate traditional gender norms in their performances. Through a thorough examination of their comedic narratives, this study aims to uncover the specific discursive strategies these performers employ to challenge stereotypes while navigating social expectations. By analyzing the linguistic mechanisms within their scripts, the research seeks to reveal how they deconstruct patriarchal ideologies. This research will be conducted within a broader social and power framework, with the objective of examining how Chinese female stand-up comedians engage in a subtle negotiation.

Embedding Inclusive Communication in Research Performing Organisation: Processes, Challenges and Outcomes.

Elise Allix-Desfautaux — 2026-04-25

Inclusive language is not merely a stylistic preference but a foundational infrastructure for reliable and equitable organisational cultures. For Research-Performing Organisations (RPOs), particularly those trying to comply with the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) requirements of Horizon Europe, the operationalisation of inclusion is critical for fostering retention, driving innovation, and ensuring compliance. However, substantial barriers remain in translating these high-level mandates into daily practice. In the international research context, where English acts as the primary vehicle for scientific dissemination, researchers frequently face nuance deficits. Because English is often not the primary language of researchers and staff in RPOs, many lack the specific vocabulary to navigate evolving inclusive norms despite professional intent. This friction is compounded in bilingual institutions by the structural rigidity of heavily gendered local languages like Italian, where the transition from the neutral masculine default (maschile sovraesteso) to inclusive alternatives creates a high barrier to entry. Consequently, researchers often perceive inclusive language guidelines as ideological, prescriptive, or cognitively burdensome, creating a persistent gap between theoretical diversity principles and practical scientific communication. This paper presents the design, implementation, and governance of the IIT Inclusive Language Guide, a comprehensive bilingual (English and Italian) instrument developed by the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia. Diverging from traditional compliance-based policy documents, our primary objective was usability: to design a linguistic framework that significantly lowers the cognitive load of inclusivity while maintaining the precision required in a STEM environment. To enhance adoption and global relevance, the Guide moves beyond the traditional gender binary to systematise six intersecting dimensions of inclusion: Age, Culture, Disability, Ethnicity, Gender, and Socioeconomic Status. The architecture of the Guide prioritises accessibility through a modular design and visual comparative tables that allow users to intuitively understand why and how to shift their language without disrupting their workflow. We detail the mixed-method development strategy, which combined extensive international benchmarking with a pragmatic sponsorship governance model involving co-design with senior leadership and researchers. Our analysis shows that while gender-specific policies are now common in Italy, broader inclusive frameworks are almost non-existent. This makes the IIT Guide a novelty in the field. Finally, we discuss the specific challenges of governing non-normative cultural tools in a high-performance research environment. We conclude by offering a scalable, open-access blueprint for other anglophone or bilingual institutions, demonstrating how RPOs can proactively codify their values into actionable standards that foster a more cohesive ecosystem of inclusivity.

TechMate: Translating Gender Equality Research into Actionable Practice for Computing Educators

Alina Berry — 2026-04-25

The persistent underrepresentation of women in computing higher education remains a global challenge, with women comprising less than 20% of ICT specialists across the EU. While substantial research has identified effective interventions to support underrepresented groups, this evidence remains fragmented across academic publications, grey literature, and institutional reports. Educators seeking to implement gender-inclusive practices face significant barriers in identifying relevant initiatives, understanding implementation requirements, and accessing practical guidance suitable for their institutional contexts. This work presents TechMate, a fully operational (https://ascnet.ie/techmate/) web-based, open-access toolkit designed to bridge the gap between research evidence and practical implementation. The toolkit consolidates over 25 research-driven gender equality initiatives organised across four evidence-based strands: Policy, Pedagogy, Influence & Support, and Promotion & Engagement. Each initiative is presented as a discrete action with comprehensive implementation guidance, including research-driven supporting facts (Quick Facts section), step-by-step implementation approaches, institutional case studies, evaluation recommendations, and ready-to-use resources. The toolkit provides multiple pathways for educators to discover relevant initiatives: manual navigation through actions, or dynamic search and filter functionality tailored to institutional roles and resource availability. Individual action pages aim to guide users though the initial exploration, implementation planning and evaluation design. Actions range from in-class interventions (such as personalised feedback and intelligent class management) to strategic policy-level changes (including curriculum redesign and recruitment strategies). TechMate is designed for computing academics, programme leaders, and institutional diversity champions seeking evidence-informed guidance to improve recruitment and retention of women and other underrepresented gender groups in computing-related study programmes. The toolkit has undergone an evaluation with computing educators across multiple universities, demonstrating strong perceived usefulness and usability. The paper outlines the development of TechMate from prototype to current version and discusses toolkit’s evaluation outcomes.