Setting the Scene: What Is the Gender Gap and How Will It Be Explored?

Abstract

This chapter introduces the book and its contribution to examining gender inequality, more commonly referred to as the gender gap, by offering diverse perspectives and analysis of women’s lived experiences from a broad range of settings and contexts. This collection complements existing literature analyzing gender inequalities, by honoring feminist epistemology that recognizes knowledge as situated knowledge and the centrality of women’s lived experience. This book adopts a methodology referred as ‘critical friend’—where every topic covered includes a critical response from another researcher. This collection makes an important contribution to our collective understanding of gender inequalities. This book adds topics not usually discussed when referring to the gender gap, as well as covering more common topics like inequalities in terms of employment, payment, and political representation and participation. All chapters are based on qualitative research and have in common an approach the embraces interdisciplinary, intersectional, and intentional research. This volume gives recognition to non-tangible dimensions of the gender gap, which are as important as those dimensions captured by the gender gap indicators.