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Gender Equality as a Core Academic Value: Undoing Gender in a ‘Non-Traditional’ Swedish University

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Gendered Success in Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter reports on a case study of a Swedish University, appointed the most gender equal university in Sweden. With the highest percentage of women professors in Swedish academia (35%) and a gender balance in senior academic management positions, it has received recognition for its achievements when it comes to quantitative gender equality. Drawing on interviews with key informants and official documents, the chapter explores how this university managed to establish and maintain a gendered agenda. The analysis uses a theoretical framework about gendered organizations and gender equality practices to explore how gender was undone in relation to structure, culture, interaction and identity.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Due to research ethical considerations, some facts about the CSU have been altered. This is done in order to ensure that the CSU will not be easily identified. The proportion of the gender balance is, however, reported accurately.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology and Work Science, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Helen Peterson & Birgitta Jordansson

Authors
  1. Helen Peterson
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  2. Birgitta Jordansson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen Peterson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education and Arts, Federation University Australia, Mt Helen, Australia

    Kate White

  2. Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

    Pat O'Connor

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© 2017 The Author(s)

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Peterson, H., Jordansson, B. (2017). Gender Equality as a Core Academic Value: Undoing Gender in a ‘Non-Traditional’ Swedish University. In: White, K., O'Connor, P. (eds) Gendered Success in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56659-1_2

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