Beyond a technical fix: reflecting on a feminist “Parallel” self-assessment approach to integrating gender into a large-scale scientific research project

Purpose Gender equality (GE) in research raises fundamental questions for existing research structures and norms. We ask how conventional science can meaningfully adopt a gender perspective that would “undo” much of what is considered sacred to the nature of science. This paper reflects on the challenges and opportunities of taking a feminist-inspired approach to integrating a gender perspective into a large-scale scientific research project. We present our reflexive “Parallel” approach (based on PArticipatory, RelAtionaL and contExtuaL principles) to improving GE in a way that goes beyond “technical fixes” and reflect on the challenges of effecting meaningful change. Design/methodology/approach The research utilises a self-reflection methodology drawing on our experiences, as feminist researchers, of supporting partners in a large and diverse scientific project to integrate a gender perspective in their research. The paper takes a feminist lens to reflect on our experiences of implementing the reflexive “Parallel” approach, drawing on a guided reflection method and on documentation of our engagement with partners over the life of the project, along with analysis of results from self-assessment questionnaires completed by project partners. Findings Introducing a feminist reflexivity endeavour within a scientific project that is already shaped by logics of objectivism and gender-neutrality provokes fundamental epistemological tensions. Our Parallel approach was challenged by the structures of a conventional scientific project and faced resistance, including pressures to adopt more technical fixes and evasion of responsibility for change by “gendering the gender work”. Unlike more technical approaches, the Parallel methodology challenges gender-neutral scientific norms but, in doing so, provokes productive tensions that are essential for transformative change for GE. Originality/value Adds to understandings of the slow progress in improving GE in research; addresses the lacuna in how change might be stimulated in practice; argues that change for gender equality must be framed from a feminist epistemological perspective; proposes the feminist Parallel reflective self-assessment approach; and suggests that research funding organisations need to embed such an approach if they are to meaningfully meet their gender obligations.