The Sole Engineering Genius: A Professional Identity Not Fit for the Purpose of Gender Equality Projects
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift, 2023

Despite decades of directed efforts gender equality is still a challenge in many university level STEM institutions. Key reasons for this are found in disciplinary and institutional cultures. A crucial cultural element is professional identity. In this article, an ethnographic study of a gender equality program in a technical university in Sweden underpins the identification of a professional identity that we name: the ‘sole engineering genius’. This cultural figure displays features that run counter to measures promoting gender equality. As a component of engineering faculty’s self-perception as well as views of others, this figure provides rationales for rejecting the changes required to end gender inequality. Against the backdrop of research literature, we argue that this professional identity is not a local or national phenomenon, but likely a key factor in academic engineering culture transnationally that may continue to undermine gender equality strategies in STEM institutions.

engineering culture

gender equality

professional identity

institutional change

Författare

Kai Lo Andersson

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Science, Technology and Society

Catharina Landström

Chalmers, Teknikens ekonomi och organisation, Science, Technology and Society

Engineering Studies

1937-8629 (ISSN) 19408374 (eISSN)

Vol. 15

Jämställdhet för excellens (Genie)

Stiftelsen Chalmers tekniska högskola, 2019-01-01 -- 2028-12-31.

Ämneskategorier

Genusstudier

Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi

Socialantropologi

Kulturstudier

DOI

10.1080/19378629.2023.2266416

Mer information

Senast uppdaterat

2024-07-17