Integrating Gender in Research Planning

Abstract

Did you know that research can open doors for more gender equitable futures? This is only possible if you integrate a clear and strong gender analysis when planning your research. Gender analysis is built on an understanding of the differences and inequalities in the interrelated lives of women, men, and members of other gender diverse groups, often shaped by unequal power relations and norms that dictate what roles, attitudes and behaviours are considered normal or appropriate. Gender blind research is just bad research. Not only does it risk undermining the reliability and validity of the findings and their representation of social realities, but it can also cause the programmes, policies and campaigns on which the research is based to reinforce rather than challenge patriarchal structures and gender inequalities. REVIEWING YOUR RESEARCH DESIGN FROM A GENDER PERSPECTIVE The table below presents the gender rubric developed by the Gender Working Group of the Oxfam Research Network. This is an adaptation of the Interagency Gender Working Group's Gender Integration Continuum Categories designed specifically for programming. The rubric presents a sliding scale that can be used to help identify how integrated gender is in your research. The rubric starts from gender-blind, where the research fails to acknowledge any gender issues, and moves towards gender-transformative, where the research findings are meant to catalyse social change. Ideally, research should aim to be at the gender-transformative end of the spectrum. Research that is gender-transformative has the potential to inform long-term practical changes in