Data, anecdote and metaphor in gender equality policy-making: Merging ‘intellectual and real world mainstreaming’

Abstract

This chapter stems from several years in an intellectual tussle with the elusive and over-used concept ‘gender mainstreaming’.1 The rise of neoliberal policy paradigms and the focus on quantitative measurement of policy outcomes have been identified as key challenges in developing gender equality policy (True 2003; Carney 2004). Based on previous research investigating gender mainstreaming in the Republic of Ireland as one case of a proliferating global gender policy, this chapter aims to define the use of metaphor in relation to gender mainstreaming policy. It will also investigate the scope of metaphor as an explanatory category for policy-makers and analysts developing the mainstreaming phenomenon in theory and practice (cf. Mazey 2000: 333). The development of awkward jargon (e.g. gender impact assessment, gender mainstreaming, mainstreaming equality) and (mis)communication have already been identified as problems for those working with gender mainstreaming (Mossink 2001; Carney 2002). More recent studies have concluded that gender disaggregated data, gathered while implementing gender mainstreaming, have been used to justify the introduction of the policy; rather than to build a new, gender-equal policy base. New methodological approaches are needed to move the mainstreaming agenda beyond the circular ‘data as a justification for the policy’ loop2 in which it is currently trapped. The main conclusion drawn from this research is that gender disaggregated data are not useful in understanding or eradicating gender inequality. Hence, this chapter begins to explore other means of understanding gender mainstreaming – namely metaphor.