Sex and Gender Traps and Springboards: A Focus Group Study Among Gender Researchers in Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract

We explored the difficulties that gender researchers encounter in their research and the strategies they use for solving these problems. Sixteen Swedish researchers, all women, took part in focus group discussions; the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The problems reported fell into four main categories: the ambiguity of the concepts of sex and gender; traps associated with dichotomization; difficulties with communication; and issues around publication. Categories of suggested problem-solving strategies were adaptation, pragmatism, addressing the complexities, and definition of terms. Here the specific views of gender researchers in medicine and health sciences—“medical insiders”—bring new challenges into focus.

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council to Umeå University's “Challenging Gender” research program, one of three designated Centers of Gender Excellence. Many thanks go to this research program for financial support and to Proper English for revising the language.