Gender Knowledge and Gender Expertise: The Implementation of Gender Mainstreaming in Swedish State Agencies

Abstract

Abstract Through an analysis of the Swedish government development program for gender mainstreaming in state agencies—the JIM (Jämställdhet i myndigheter)program—this article analyzes how gender equality is constructed (gender knowledge) and what role specialized knowledge (gender expertise) has in policy implementation. The article claims that even in best-case scenarios, such as Sweden, where intensive efforts to integrate a gender perspective have been undertaken, gender knowledge is based on visions and strategies that do not question prevailing policy paradigms. However, cross-cutting and intersectional conceptualizations of gender equality have created epistemic space for transformative interventions on the part of gender experts.