Gender mainstreaming continues to be a core approach towards the progress and acceleration of gender equality in institutions, societies and even research. Researchers and institutions nowadays try to seek opportunities for change by suggesting gender integration in organizations, projects, and research in all ifelds of study. This article provides a reflection on gender mainstreaming in research and approaches to its integration in research projects and programs related to digital government. It explores the need for a gender approach in digital government research, challenges to its adoption and outlines the opportunities of integrating gender in research of digital governance for the ultimate goal of achieving gender equality.
theory, it employs the revision of key concepts to have an in-depth understanding of a gendered
world, rather than the formation of a separatist theory [
To aid the acceleration of the attainment of gender equality by institutions and the global
community, institutions have called for the incorporation of gender equality into the
‘mainstream’ of activities rather than regarding the concept as an ‘optional’ activity [
This work approaches gender mainstreaming integration in research projects and programs
related to digital government from the experience and viewpoint of the authors. It is a reflection
on the importance of having a gender mainstreaming approach to gender directed at research
institutions or single researchers that focus their work on digital government. Some of the
aspects presented result from a case study on the authors’ research institute focused on
understanding the standpoint on gender mainstreaming [
All country members of the United Nations (UN) have committed to the achievement of the SDGs through all possible means. Particularly for SDG 5, this implies that closing the gap between women and men, girls and boys, is the ultimate global practice for member states and national institutions.
The proposal to have a gender approach in all research on digital government can be understood by researchers and institute managers that are aware of the contribution their work, more or less directly, has on advancing government and governance practices, policy definition and implementation, practical application of solutions, and consequently, afecting the achievement of all SDGs. For SDG 5, research in e-government and digital transformation provides a high-level overview of key issues, identifies key practices, and presents gaps in data as they relate to gender and information and telecommunications technologies (ICTs).
It is not possible to exclude ICTs as a valuable resource to pursue such an objective. As
stated by the International Telecommunication Union [
Therefore, research institutions, centres, groups, and projects that direct their attention to digital government should be concerned with the implementation of gender mainstreaming across activities and procedures.
Gender intensive research is more closely related with areas such as sociology, political science,
education, geography, humanities, and business management [
For those that do not have resources dedicated to gender studies, it may feel as a side work from the day-to-day activities to address the topic. Some of the constraints are related to project objectives not having gender orientation, resources allocated to projects are exhausted not leaving availability to pursue a gender approach, time management aspects that do not leave the required time to integrate gender in results, and in some cases, the clients’ objectives and demands are not aligned with gender concerns, limiting, or blocking the possibility for a gender approach to research.
Researchers’ experience and cultural environment also plays an extensive part in gender mainstreaming research. Personal and professional experience may pose a challenge in the motivation and willingness to pursue gender actions. These cultural and personal factors afect the position from which each individual looks at gender mainstreaming. It is therefore relevant to formalize in each research centre, institute or department, policies and plans for gender mainstreaming across the organization.
The last challenge is associated with not being an expert in gender sensitive research. This may also be viewed as a limitation due to the lack of theoretical background or ignorance on diferent approaches that link gender to other fields of knowledge. Researchers may feel restrained and uncomfortable to use gender approaches, fearful that they can have a biased or uninformed position.
Nowadays, the gradual elimination of gender inequalities is being embedded in most
organizational settings and mandates. Organizations are beginning to discover mainstream situations
that call for change both internally and externally for the successful promotion of gender
equality [
Consequently, the introduction of the accountability strategy for gender mainstreaming in planning and reporting systems is another significant approach towards repositioning gender in practice and in research. Many tools and development initiatives have been development across the entire UN system [17] and UNU [18] that played an important role in seeing that gender is well represented in the activities, programs, and policies of institutions. Lastly, through e-governance programmes essentializing gender equity and equality becomes relevant both for institutions and research. Thus, diferent kinds of alliances and cooperative arrangements between institutions, governments, businesses, and society are therefore represented making room for gender dimensions to be expressed.
The purpose of this section is to present a general but comprehensive set of tools, actions, and mechanisms to have in place or implement that facilitate gender mainstreaming adoption in research projects for digital government. It is divided into five general points that cover all project phases and research preparation.
Preparedness: It is important that research institutes and centres provide researchers with a set of tools that help to implement a gender approach. Examples of tools include a gender policy to guide the integration of gender in projects and research, a gender action plan that promotes accountability, and defines steps and goals regarding gender mainstreaming, as well as a gender sensitive language dictionary. Some recommended tools and resources can be found in institutions’ websites and repositories such as the UN, OECD, EuroStrat, etc. [19, 20, 17]. Besides the aforementioned tools, all research institutes should focus on promoting a genderaware culture and fostering gender mainstreaming practices in management, recruitment, administrative and external activities.
Parity and equality of opportunities: One of the simplest opportunities to implement a gender
approach is to advocate for gender parity and equality. To have an equal number of men
and women in the team and to give equal opportunities and the same weight in the
decisionmaking process is a step towards the contribution of gender mainstreaming. Parity can also
be implemented when selecting research interviewees, participants, constituting focus groups,
workshops, or brainstorming activities. It can be taken into consideration in any aspect of the
research process [
Methodological approach: The more certain way to ensure gender is included in research projects and programs is to make it explicit in the approach to be followed. A gender-based analysis or gender impact assessment can be considered. This implies that the establishment of the research objectives considers and makes explicit the gender approach which forces researchers to make it part of the analysis or results discussion.
Gender data: It may be possible to understand diferent perspectives for various topics, from policy making to technology, by using gender disaggregated data [19, 22]. Indicators of performance for the diferent genders can also be employed. This is easier to carry through in more social sciences disciplines than in pure technological research; however, it should be integrated whenever possible.
Reporting: Reinforcing the internal approach in external communication makes clear the position of institutes and researchers. The use of gender sensitive language in reports, publications, and public communications is a means of promoting gender mainstreaming in research dissemination that can be achieved by resorting to writing and speech. Another aspect of public dissemination where gender concerns can be taken under consideration is in the choice of images to be used. Ideally portraying gender diversity or being balanced in terms of representation.
The peculiarities of research often make it imperative for certain specific actions to be
implemented towards integrating gender, as most research still shows a vast under-representation of
women especially in the ICT sector and the digital governance space [
Incorporating mechanisms and dimensions of gender in research helps to understand and shape both technology and governance in the context of ICTs. Fundamentally, the waves of gender inequalities are still influenced by the level of gender equality component that is present both in digital governance and research. This therefore calls for the integration of gender dimensions in all aspects of research and digital governance.
As generally highlighted by researchers and academia, women and men are not equally taking part in and fully benefiting from digital opportunities. In fact, the hurdles of gender inequalities curtail the ability of women and girls to fully benefit from the opportunities ofered by digital governance. Gender mainstreaming can therefore necessitate and bring to recognition through integration, the need for equality, and inclusion in this regard.
This work considers gender mainstreaming and its relevance to research in digital government by emphasising its use in the integration process and how these shape inequalities both in digital governance and in research. Gender mainstreaming and its implications for e-governance/digital governance research are not widely studied. Thus, gender is not receiving proper attention in the digital government studies. The authors consider several challenges that are transversal to digital government research and the adoption of gender in the research process. Significantly, making gender a silo and the perception of it as “special interest” and not fundamental, compromises research. This can generate bias and incomplete data in some cases, as well as fail in helping researchers fill critical knowledge, evidence, and practice gaps that exist.
Some solutions are presented for researchers’ consideration. The paper concludes with the authors’ opinion that there is a lack of gender integration in research and digital government studies. A more attentive and comprehensive perspective on gender mainstreaming is needed that includes the discussion of gender by researchers in all fields including ICTs. More so, there is a need for consistent research and investigation in these areas. [14] C. Barone, G. Assirelli, Gender segregation in higher education: an empirical test of seven explanations, Higher Education 79 (2020) 55–78. [15] A. Mann, T. DiPrete, Trends in gender segregation in the choice of science and engineering majors, Social science research 42 (2013) 1519–1541. [16] G. Waylen, Informal institutions, institutional change, and gender equality, Political
Research Quarterly 67 (2014) 212–223. [17] UN Inter-Agency Network on Women and Gender Equality, Repository on resources and tools for capacity development on gender mainstreaming within the united nations system, 2021. URL: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/ Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/HowWeWork/UNSystemCoordination/IANWGE/ IANWGE-Resources-and-tools-for-capacity-development-in-gender-mainstreaming-en. pdf. [18] United Nations University, Unu gender action plan 2020 - 2024, 2020. URL:
UNU-Gender-Action-Plan-2020-2024-Final.pdf. [19] E. I. for Gender Equality, Gender in research, 2022. [20] Organisation for economic co-operation and development, 2015. URL: https://www.oecd.
org/gov/toolkit-for-mainstreaming-and-implementing-gender-equality.pdf. [21] E. I. for Gender Equality, Gender equality in academia and research: Gear tool, 2022. [22] United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization, F. Schlegel, Unesco science report: towards 2030, 2015. URL: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300.