Gendered Innovations uses the analysis of sex, gender and intersectionality as resources to improve the quality, excellence and applicability of science and technology, demonstrating that considering these dimensions adds value at all stages of research and development processes and can open new directions for research and innovation.
Furthermore, this analysis provides critical rigor in the research, policy and practice of science, medicine and engineering.
Metodologia
Gendered Innovations
Integrate sex, gender and intersectionality analysis into scientific research, engineering, medicine and technological innovation. The project develops practical methods and provides peer-reviewed case studies that demonstrate how incorporating these perspectives can lead to most innovative and relevant discoveries and designs .
Origin and context
The Gendered Innovations project was launched at Stanford University in July 2009, led by researcher Londa Schiebinger. The project aimed to incorporate sex and gender analysis into scientific research and innovation to achieve deeper advances and discover new directions in various disciplines such as medicine, engineering and the environment. Starting in 2011, the European Commission and the US National Science Foundation joined forces to expand the global reach and international collaboration through workshops and case study projects.
Principles
The methodology is based on the premise that analyzing sex and gender differences can generate more precise knowledge and more effective applications , and has been used as a benchmark in European projects Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.
Components
The project develops practical methods and provides peer-reviewed case studies that demonstrate how incorporating these perspectives can lead to more innovative and relevant discoveries and designs.
Operating guide
The methods are constantly evolving. New ones will be created and others will be discarded as circumstances change. There is no simple recipe. The methods are applied in case studies. All the information can be found on the project website, which should be consulted to see which tools are proposed according to the case.
The Intersectional Design Cards They facilitate our approach to Gendered Innovations. They are a practical tool that helps research and design teams incorporate sex, gender and intersectionality analysis into their projects.
Each card presents a question or situation that invites reflection on how factors of sex, gender, and other intersectional identities can influence the project. They are used in workshops or co-creation sessions to stimulate critical thinking and generate more inclusive solutions. They facilitate the identification of potential biases and the formulation of more diversity-sensitive research questions.
Advantages
Improve the quality of research and innovation
It allows you to identify and eliminate sex and gender biases, generating more precise and relevant results.
Versatility and cross-functional applicability
It can be applied in very diverse sectors: health, technology, artificial intelligence, urban planning, etc.
Practical examples and specific guides
It provides peer-reviewed case studies that show how to apply the methods rigorously.
Approach aligned with European policies
A benchmark for projects such as Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, in line with international standards.
Tools like the Intersectional Design Cards
It offers practical resources to stimulate reflections and quickly integrate the perspective of gender and intersectionality into projects.
Limitations
Complexity of access and understanding
The language and resources on the official website may be academic or not very accessible to non-specialized audiences.
Uneven application according to sectors
The methods are more developed for areas such as health and biomedicine.
Dependence on available data
It requires quality data disaggregated by sex and gender, which often does not exist or is incomplete.
It is not a closed manual or a checklist.
It does not offer linear instructions; the methods are dynamic and the repository must be continuously consulted and adapted on a case-by-case basis.
It can remain superficial if there is no commitment.
There is a risk that it will be used as a formal exercise, without translating into real or structural changes in the project.
To take into account
It is a project that deals with the analysis of sex, gender and intersectionality with rigor. Very much in line with Femframe in that this analysis opens us to new possibilities. However, it is not a structured methodology. It requires a lot of effort to understand what can be done depending on the case.
Contrast this with the ease of use of intersectionality cards. We certainly incorporate everything for training, not so much for creating tools or guides. Good reference for opening minds and having weighty examples.
Documentation
Official page of Gendered Innovations : https://genderedinnovations.stanford.edu/
Methods of Sex and Gender Analysis : https://genderedinnovations.stanford.edu/methods-sex-and-gender-analysis.html
Case studies : https://genderedinnovations.stanford.edu/fix-the-knowledge.html
Elsevier Research Academy Webinar on Sex and Gender-based Analysis. Londa Schiebinger and Cara Tannenbaum present: How to integrate sex, gender, and intersectional analysis into research. With Holly J. Falk-Krzesinski, VP for Research Intelligence on Global Strategic Networks, Elsevier, and Jessica Mills from Cell Press, Elsevier.
Jones, H., Schiebinger, L., Grimes, A., & Small, A. (2021). Intersectional Design. http://www.intersectionaldesign.com
Important for innovation issues when we work with a gender perspective:
https://genderedinnovations.stanford.edu/methods/norm.html
Cards in pdf: https://genderedinnovations.taiwan-gist.net/intersectionaldesign.com/file/GUIDE_BOOKLET_IntersectionalDesignCards_v5.pdf
Practical examples
Examples of areas where specific methods have been applied:
- Health and biomedicine
- Evolutionary biology
- Artificial intelligence
- Social robotics
- Marine sciences
- Urban planning and transport
- Innovation
On their website we find a multitude of practical cases, such as
Facial Recognition: Analyzing Gender and Intersectionality in Machine Learning
Virtual Assistants and Chatbots: Analyzing Gender and Intersectionality in Social Robots
Chronic pain: Analyzing how sex and gender interact in the perception and treatment of pain can lead to more effective therapies for all people.
Facial recognition: Integrating gender and intersectionality analysis into machine learning can reduce classification errors and biases in facial recognition systems.
Urban design: Considering gender-specific needs in the design of public spaces can improve safety and accessibility for everyone.