Gender and Higher Education Research: An Interdisciplinary Review

This chapter investigates the dynamic relationship between gender and higher education research (HER), elucidating the ways in which gendered power structures influence academic institutions, policy frameworks, and the production of knowledge. It commences by critiquing gender-related themes in HER scholarship, drawing on empirical evidence from two prominent journals to highlight women’s shifting participation and persistent disparities. The analysis subsequently dissects institutionalized gender biases embedded in organizational features and examines policy initiatives to address these systemic inequities. Another core theme is the examination of how gendered assumptions permeate disciplinary knowledge within universities, revealing mechanisms through which academic fields reproduce societal gender hierarchies. By integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from politics, organizational theory, and sociology, the chapter advances a complex understanding of gender’s pervasive influence on HER. It contributes to a holistic analysis of gender’s role in academia, advocating for more equitable policies and practices to transform higher education systems globally.