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Beware of Policies Bearing Gifts: How Policies Enable Sanitized Intersectionality, Exclusive Inclusion, and Divertising

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Title: Beware of Policies Bearing Gifts: How Policies Enable Sanitized Intersectionality, Exclusive Inclusion, and Divertising
Language: English
Authors: Laís Rodrigues (ORCID 0000-0002-1038-7996)
Source: Policy Futures in Education. 2026 24(2):284-300.
Availability: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 17
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Intersectionality, Sex Fairness, Foreign Countries, Universities, Inclusion, Diversity, Higher Education, Educational Finance, Financial Support, Research, Educational Policy, Compliance (Legal), Educational Practices, Power Structure, Public Policy
Geographic Terms: European Union
DOI: 10.1177/14782103251381519
ISSN: 1478-2103
Abstract: The requirement for Gender Equality Plans as a condition for Horizon Europe funding marks a significant institutional recognition of structural gender inequalities--not only within individual universities but across the broader higher education and research systems. Yet, this recognition comes at a cost. This paper critically examines how the institutionalization of intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion--framed as a triad by the Horizon Europe programme--facilitates their assimilation into procedural, compliance-driven practices that risk depoliticizing feminist and anti-oppression struggles. Adopting a problem-seeking approach informed by Carol Bacchi's (2009) "What's the problem represented to be?" framework, the analysis is guided by three central questions: (1) How is the triad (intersectionality, inclusion, diversity) represented? (2) What is left unproblematic in this representation? (3) What effects are (or could be) produced by this representation? The critical analysis of HE Guidance suggests that the hyper-visible commitment to the triad renders less/invisible how this triad is being (ab)used, limiting its potentiality. This includes the enactment of sanitized forms of intersectionality, a notion of inclusion that can be exclusionary, and a notion of diversity that primarily serves institutional branding. Simultaneously, there are ways in which GEPs might be used to combat gender inequalities, even if with limitations.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499476
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Beware of Policies Bearing Gifts: How Policies Enable Sanitized Intersectionality, Exclusive Inclusion, and Divertising
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laís+Rodrigues%22">Laís Rodrigues</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1038-7996">0000-0002-1038-7996</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Policy+Futures+in+Education%22"><i>Policy Futures in Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 24(2):284-300.
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  Data: SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intersectionality%22">Intersectionality</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sex+Fairness%22">Sex Fairness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities%22">Universities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Inclusion%22">Inclusion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Diversity%22">Diversity</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Finance%22">Educational Finance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Support%22">Financial Support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Policy%22">Educational Policy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Compliance+%28Legal%29%22">Compliance (Legal)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Practices%22">Educational Practices</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Power+Structure%22">Power Structure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+Policy%22">Public Policy</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22European+Union%22">European Union</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1177/14782103251381519
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  Data: 1478-2103
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: The requirement for Gender Equality Plans as a condition for Horizon Europe funding marks a significant institutional recognition of structural gender inequalities--not only within individual universities but across the broader higher education and research systems. Yet, this recognition comes at a cost. This paper critically examines how the institutionalization of intersectionality, diversity, and inclusion--framed as a triad by the Horizon Europe programme--facilitates their assimilation into procedural, compliance-driven practices that risk depoliticizing feminist and anti-oppression struggles. Adopting a problem-seeking approach informed by Carol Bacchi's (2009) "What's the problem represented to be?" framework, the analysis is guided by three central questions: (1) How is the triad (intersectionality, inclusion, diversity) represented? (2) What is left unproblematic in this representation? (3) What effects are (or could be) produced by this representation? The critical analysis of HE Guidance suggests that the hyper-visible commitment to the triad renders less/invisible how this triad is being (ab)used, limiting its potentiality. This includes the enactment of sanitized forms of intersectionality, a notion of inclusion that can be exclusionary, and a notion of diversity that primarily serves institutional branding. Simultaneously, there are ways in which GEPs might be used to combat gender inequalities, even if with limitations.
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      – SubjectFull: Intersectionality
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      – SubjectFull: Sex Fairness
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Universities
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      – SubjectFull: Inclusion
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      – SubjectFull: European Union
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