Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Always Gender but Not Only Gender: Operationalizing Intersectionality in Swedish Gender Equality Policy

Bullock, Lukas LU orcid (2025) In Politics & Gender p.1-26
Abstract
Intersectionality is increasingly being operationalized as part of gender mainstreaming efforts across national and multilateral contexts. One prominent example can be located in Sweden’s 2015 institutional commitment to centering future gender equality policy in an intersectional analysis. This article explores the complexities of institutionalizing intersectionality in Swedish gender equality policy processes, drawing on the situated insights of public sector gender experts and Afro-Swedish feminist activists and politicians. Key findings include the prevalence of additive interpretations of intersectionality that privilege gender, limitations in statistical practices, and uneven commitments to intersectional policymaking across... (More)
Intersectionality is increasingly being operationalized as part of gender mainstreaming efforts across national and multilateral contexts. One prominent example can be located in Sweden’s 2015 institutional commitment to centering future gender equality policy in an intersectional analysis. This article explores the complexities of institutionalizing intersectionality in Swedish gender equality policy processes, drawing on the situated insights of public sector gender experts and Afro-Swedish feminist activists and politicians. Key findings include the prevalence of additive interpretations of intersectionality that privilege gender, limitations in statistical practices, and uneven commitments to intersectional policymaking across different institutional contexts. Recommendations for enhancing intersectional policymaking include the incorporation of ‘Equity Data’ and qualitative insights through structured dialogues with intersectionally marginalized communities. Ultimately, this article emphasizes the necessity of centering the voices of both institutional insiders and intersectionally marginalized stakeholders to address the shortcomings of intersectional practice to enhance its transformative potential in Sweden. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
intersectionality, Afro-Swede, Gender mainstreaming, Sweden, Gender Equality
in
Politics & Gender
pages
1 - 26
publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISSN
1743-923X
DOI
10.1017/S1743923X25100469
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
aa3463bc-639e-4683-9f9e-cd03ea2755a8
date added to LUP
2025-11-14 11:24:40
date last changed
2025-11-17 09:01:20
@article{aa3463bc-639e-4683-9f9e-cd03ea2755a8,
  abstract     = {{Intersectionality is increasingly being operationalized as part of gender mainstreaming efforts across national and multilateral contexts. One prominent example can be located in Sweden’s 2015 institutional commitment to centering future gender equality policy in an intersectional analysis. This article explores the complexities of institutionalizing intersectionality in Swedish gender equality policy processes, drawing on the situated insights of public sector gender experts and Afro-Swedish feminist activists and politicians. Key findings include the prevalence of additive interpretations of intersectionality that privilege gender, limitations in statistical practices, and uneven commitments to intersectional policymaking across different institutional contexts. Recommendations for enhancing intersectional policymaking include the incorporation of ‘Equity Data’ and qualitative insights through structured dialogues with intersectionally marginalized communities. Ultimately, this article emphasizes the necessity of centering the voices of both institutional insiders and intersectionally marginalized stakeholders to address the shortcomings of intersectional practice to enhance its transformative potential in Sweden.}},
  author       = {{Bullock, Lukas}},
  issn         = {{1743-923X}},
  keywords     = {{intersectionality; Afro-Swede; Gender mainstreaming; Sweden; Gender Equality}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{11}},
  pages        = {{1--26}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Politics & Gender}},
  title        = {{Always Gender but Not Only Gender: Operationalizing Intersectionality in Swedish Gender Equality Policy}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X25100469}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1743923X25100469}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}