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Moderate feminism within or against the neoliberal university? The example of Athena SWAN

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  • Charikleia Tzanakou
  • Ruth Pearce

Abstract

This article argues that gender equality programmes in universities and colleges may operate as a form of ‘moderate feminism’, producing contradictions through simultaneously providing a site of resistance and complicity for feminists. Our argument draws on a critical and empirical analysis of the Athena SWAN (Scientific Women's Academic Network) charter mark, which originated in the UK. We argue that Athena SWAN is a product of neoliberalization within the UK's academic environments, reflecting the tendency towards accountability, metrics and the performative ‘doing’ of equality work within this context. We problematize the operationalization and implementation of Athena SWAN processes in departments and universities, describing contradictions and caveats. Athena SWAN can lead to benefits and (limited) achievements in terms of culture change and institutional initiatives. However, the burden of undertaking this work predominantly falls upon women and other marginalized groups, such as people of colour and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. Equality programmes such as Athena SWAN are often poorly designed to address complex issues, such as intersectional identities and discrimination experienced by self‐assessment team members. Nevertheless, we identify potential in utilizing Athena SWAN as a site of resistance and means to foster collective solidarity to work against neoliberal practices.

Suggested Citation

  • Charikleia Tzanakou & Ruth Pearce, 2019. "Moderate feminism within or against the neoliberal university? The example of Athena SWAN," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(8), pages 1191-1211, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:gender:v:26:y:2019:i:8:p:1191-1211
    DOI: 10.1111/gwao.12336
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    Cited by:

    1. Caitríona Ní Laoire & Carol Linehan & Uduak Archibong & Ilenia Picardi & Maria Udén, 2021. "Context matters: Problematizing the policy‐practice interface in the enactment of gender equality action plans in universities," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(2), pages 575-593, March.
    2. Udeni Salmon, 2023. "“How did they protect you?” The lived experience of race and gender in the post‐colonial English university," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(2), pages 510-528, March.
    3. Liudvika Leišytė & Rosemary Deem & Charikleia Tzanakou, 2021. "Inclusive Universities in a Globalized World," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(3), pages 1-5.
    4. Gregor Wolbring & Aspen Lillywhite, 2021. "Equity/Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in Universities: The Case of Disabled People," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-34, May.
    5. Yunyu Xiao & Edward Pinkney & Tianzi Li & Paul S. F. Yip, 2023. "Breaking through the glass ceiling: unveiling women’s representation by gender and race in the higher education hierarchy," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    6. Emily Yarrow & Karen Johnston, 2023. "Athena SWAN: “Institutional peacocking” in the neoliberal university," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(3), pages 757-772, May.
    7. Meredith Nash & Ruby Grant & Robyn Moore & Tania Winzenberg, 2021. "Male allyship in institutional STEMM gender equity initiatives," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(3), pages 1-16, March.
    8. Kirsten Locke & Rebecca W. B. Lund & Susan Wright, 2021. "Rethinking gender equity in the contaminated university: A methodology for listening for music in the ruins," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 1079-1097, May.
    9. Thereza Raquel Sales de Aguiar & Shamima Haque & Keith A. Bender, 2022. "Athena SWAN gender equality plans and the gendered impact of COVID‐19," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 591-608, March.
    10. Micaela Stierncreutz & Janne Tienari, 2023. "Shaped by resistance: Discursive politics in gender equality work," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1178-1198, July.
    11. Karen Cuthbert & Joseph J Hall & Sally Hines & Kim Allen & Sharon Elley, 2022. "Hearing, Policing, and Using Gender Diversity: The Role of Institutional Gatekeepers in Researching Youth and Gender," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 27(3), pages 763-786, September.
    12. Sara Clavero & Yvonne Galligan, 2021. "Delivering gender justice in academia through gender equality plans? Normative and practical challenges," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(3), pages 1115-1132, May.
    13. Christian Möller & Saffron Passam & Sarah Riley & Martine Robson, 2024. "All inside our heads? A critical discursive review of unconscious bias training in the sciences," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 797-820, May.
    14. Mike Thelwall, 2020. "Female citation impact superiority 1996–2018 in six out of seven English‐speaking nations," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 71(8), pages 979-990, August.
    15. Thais França & Filipa Godinho & Beatriz Padilla & Mara Vicente & Lígia Amâncio & Ana Fernandes, 2023. "“Having a family is the new normal”: Parenting in neoliberal academia during the COVID‐19 pandemic," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(1), pages 35-51, January.
    16. Soline Blanchard, 2022. "Feminism through the market? A study of gender‐equality consultants in France," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 443-465, March.

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