Possibilities of documentary research for the intersectional analysis of equality policies

Abstract

This paper addresses the possibilities of documentary research for the intersectional analysis of gender equality policies. For this purpose, this work proposed an analysis of the strategic plans of equality, valid in 2019 (or most recent) developed in the Spanish context at state and autonomic level. Two main issues are examined: 1) the recognition of intersectionality and multiple inequalities; 2) attention to groups located in multiple positions of inequality. The results show a very limited incorporation of the intersectional framework in gender equality plans. However, these plans attend (although in a variable way) to different axes of diversity and inequality: mainly, age / life cycle, territory and social exclusion. The documentary analysis has allowed to locate the intersectional issues that are the object of attention in different social fields: mainly, education, violence and social inclusion policies. At the same time, there is an underrepresentation of interests and needs of racialized, migrant, and ethnic minority women in addition to an insensibility regarding affective-sexual diversity. The critical, reflexive, and situated analysis that involves the intersectionality can help increase the effectiveness and equity of gender equality policies through the inclusion of groups and issues located at intersections of multiple inequalities.