Män och manlighet i Sveriges innovationspolitik

Abstract

In this article I set out to explore how gender is being constructed in Sweden’s innovation policy. Specifically, I distinguish a connection between the pattern of prioritization within this policy area and the notions “men” as well as “masculinity”. My survey of national and regional policy documents regarding public funding of innovation systems and clusters, exposes how in half of the cases the state promotes the group of Basic and Manufacturing Industries. The group of New Technologies is being furthered in a third of the cases. In a fifth of the cases, the group of Service and Experience Industries is being furthered. This means that the groups of Basic and Manufacturing Industries and New Technologies, both primarily employing men as employees and entrepreneurs, has been given high priority within Sweden’s innovation policy while the group of Service and Experience Industries, employing mostly women or both men and women to the same extent, has been given a low priority. On a symbolical level, the two prioritized groups can be connected to two forms of masculinities: one based on physical strength and mechanical skills and the other on a calculating rationality among technological experts. Introducing the concept of co-construction of gender and innovation, I make visible how gender and innovation is mutually constructed within the innovation policy when the pattern of prioritization coincides with the gender segregated labour market. This co-construction rests upon an understanding of dualistic gender constructions. In order to achieve a less restricting practice within the making and execution of innovation policy programs, I find it necessary to highlight innovation systems and clusters that manage to bridge the gap between men dominated, women dominated and gender balanced branches of industry, thus erasing the need for segregating and hierarchical gender constructions in Sweden’s innovation policy.