The intersectional gap in Higher Education and Research: a scoping literature review

Abstract

Despite a rich literature on intersectionality, we have limited knowledge of policies that tackle intersecting inequalities in Higher Education & Research organizations (HE&R). The goal of this review is to map which existing scientific literature is available on intersectional policies in Higher Education and Research organizations and identify what gaps need to be bridged in future research. The literature identified a lack of acknowledgment, shared responsibility, and accountability by Higher Education to tackle intersecting inequalities. Predominantly departing from the personal experiences of minoritized students and staff, these 61 articles highlight persisting micro-aggressions, the lack of hiring/retention of role models, a lack of support for community building and safe spaces, and overall a (re)production of exclusionary mechanisms. We argue that in order to know how to include an intersectional approach into Higher Education equality policy, we need to develop a better understanding of how the current design and implementation processes work while simultaneously going beyond gender and the individual level to grasp how multiple grounds of discrimination mutually reinforce themselves on an individual, interpersonal and structural level.