Resistance and counter-resistance to gender equality policies in Spanish universities

  1. Castaño Collado, Cecilia 1
  2. Vázquez-Cupeiro, Susana 1
  1. 1 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

Journal:
Papers: revista de sociología

ISSN: 0210-2862,  2013-9004

Year of publication: 2023

Volume: 108

Issue: 2

Type: Article

DOI: 10.5565/REV/PAPERS.3105 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Papers: revista de sociología

Abstract

Resistance in academia is a pervasive phenomenon. Gender equality was prescribed more than a decade ago in Spain, but the problem remains unsolved. Contributing to feminist institutionalism, this paper identifies both the manifestations of resistance intended to interfere in the implementation of gender equality initiatives in Spanish universities and the strategic responses enacted by gender equality agents to counteract those resistances. To this end, we conducted in-depth interviews with the female directors of Equality Units (EqUs) at six public universities in Madrid. Despite increasing support for gender equality, the research results confirm the existence of a complex web of resistance. EqUs deploy a wide range of strategies to neutralise the refusal to accept or comply with gender equality initiatives, but these are mainly, albeit not exclusively, embodied in actions of survival. We argue that although limited, these specialised bodies’ capacity for agency has not been obliterated and could be used to put alternative and more proactive counter strategies in place to bring about fundamental change. Overall, the findings yield new insights into the progress of and resistance to gender equality initiatives in universities.

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