Working towards gender equality in higher education and research: a critical review of unintended consequences

Purpose The critical review paper explores contributions on gender equality initiatives (GEIs) in higher education and research to understand how the unintended consequences of GEIs, and their implications, are discussed in the literature. While it is known that the application of GEIs might cause unintended effects, much of the literature often sidelines this aspect. Design/methodology/approach Review paper, adopting a critical literature review approach. Findings This review demonstrates that GEIs may have unintended consequences such as: perverse incentives, homogenisation of approaches, sidelining intersectionality, placing new pressures on women and the persistence of privileged subjects. These have negative implications for individuals (women and minorities) and equality work. Some instances of positive spillovers (beyond expected outcomes) were identified. Research limitations/implications The review calls for re-thinking the design of studies exploring the impact of GEIs in higher education and research. There is a latent need for additional evidence on the organisational conditions, societal norms and legislative context shaping the impact of GEIs. Practical implications This research highlights the unintended consequences of GEIs as an intersectional risk factor for consideration by practitioners and scholars alike. Practitioners are invited to raise awareness on the potential unintended consequences of GEIs and devise strategies to anticipate and manage these. Originality/value The literature privileges focusing on the expected and positive impact of GEIs. The study of unintended consequences significantly contributes to contemporary understandings of the organisational conditions underlying the success of GEIs, which in turn, holds the potential to foster more robust understandings of how GEIs may be improved.