Decorating the Institution: Unacknowledged Emotional Labor in Designing AI Tools for Gender Equality

Paper in proceeding, 2026

This paper explores the development of an artificial intelligence–based collaboration tool designed to enhance gender inclusion within Scandinavian academia, with a particular focus on technology-related fields. Using a mixed-methods approach, we collected both qualitative and quantitative data from participants involved in the project’s design and implementation. Our findings show that motivations for participation were deeply rooted in personal values related to gender equality, enthusiasm for innovative approaches, and a shared desire to contribute to meaningful institutional change. However, the study also reveals that involvement in gender inclusion efforts often entails a complex emotional journey—beginning with initial excitement and leading to a strong sense of purpose, yet frequently marked by exhaustion, isolation, and unacknowledged labor. We underscore the critical role of teamwork and peer support throughout this process and argue that genuine progress requires more than symbolic institutional commitments. We call for structural change, grounded in sustained Human–AI–Human collaboration, to ensure that gender inclusion becomes an integral part of academic and technological advancement—not merely its decoration.