Jämställdhet – en otydlig vision med svenskhet som norm : en genusvetenskaplig fallstudie och intersektionell analys av jämställdhetsarbete i en kommunal kontext

Sammanfattning: This is a case study of work for gender equality, performed by the Employment and Competence Centre (Arbets- och kompetenscenter) in the municipality of Botkyrka. The aim of the study is to explore how gender equality is understood in the context of a municipality, and what underlying assumptions this understanding is based upon. The questions raised are; How is gender equality understood by the personnel? How do they understand gender? To what extent are women and men seen as homogeneous groups and what differences are (un)visible? What other power hierarchies besides gender are seen as important when working for gender equality? The analysis show that gender equality is a blurry vision, mainly understood in terms of equal conditions and rights, equal results for male and female participants and equal amount of women and men employed. Gender is seen as a binary system and differences between the genders are highlighted. Gender equality is restricted to gender and other power hierarchies are to a great extent left out. Women and men are mainly understood as homogeneous groups and there is a lack of understanding for intersectionality. The work for gender equality is intimately interlinked to the notion of Swedishness. It is a hidden norm and Sweden and the Swedes are linked to gender equality while the others need help to obtain the Swedish attitudes and values. Issues of power and norms are in general not taken into account in the work for gender equality in the Employment and Competence Centre in Botkyrka.