Gender as an “analytical category”

Gender is not just a structural element of society, but gender is also an analytical tool with the aid of which social relations can be studied. This is why we often find the term “analytical category”. If gender is used as an analytical category, supposedly gender neutral areas can be investigated as to the manner in which gender is constructed and what impact this has on the life situations of women and of men. Various dimensions of gender – representation, living conditions, resources and norms and values – can be rendered visible. Gender knowledge gained in this way serves as a basis for gender equality policy work. In practice, suggestions have been developed as to how specialist work or a policy field may be meaningfully analyzed. These include, for example, impact assessments in legislation which are oriented to gender equality, or other forms of gender analysis.

Gildemeister, Regine: Geschlechterdifferenz – Geschlechterdifferenzierung: Beispiel und Folgen eines Blickwechsels in der empirischen Geschlechterforschung, in: Buchen, Sylvia/ Helfferich, Cornelia / Maier, Maja S. (Hrsg.): Gender methodologisch, 2004, S. 27-45.

Scott, Joan W.: Die Zukunft von gender. Fantasien zur Jahrtausendwende. In: Honegger, Claudia / Arni, Caroline (Hrsg.): Gender - die Tücken einer Kategorie: Joan W. Scott, Geschichte und Politik: Beiträge zum Symposion anlässlich der Verleihung des Hans-Sigrist-Preises 1999 der Universität Bern an Joan W. Scott, Zürich 2001, S. 39-63.