Intersectionality and equality policies in Higher Education and Research organizations: a critical scoping review and future research agenda

Abstract

The notion of intersectionality is increasingly used to theorize inequalities within Higher Education and Research (HE&R) organizations. However, its translation into effective equality policies remains underexplored. This critical scoping review of 76 scientific articles identifies three main approaches to intersectionality in the literature on HE&R equality policies. The first approach (N = 50) captures persisting underrepresentation of intersectionally minoritized students and staff, microaggressions and feelings of non-belonging. These studies critique how current equality policies fail to address intersecting inequalities. The second approach (N = 16) examines the content of formal equality policies. These studies critique these policies for lacking intersectionality, evidence-based knowledge and accountability measures. The third approach (N = 10) theorizes the potential of intersectionality to advance social justice by tackling discrimination and privilege at both the individual and structural level. This threefold typology allows us to identify knowledge gaps in the extant literature and formulate recommendations for future research. We plead for future research that empirically explores and theorizes the designing, implementing and governing of equality policies, which contain 'traces' of intersectionality - moving beyond silos and addressing interlocking oppressive structures - with particular attention for the underlying power dynamics in HE&R.