Gender Studies

The interdisciplinary research area “Gender Studies” is relevant to all of the research departments of DIW Berlin. It aims at incorporating the econcomic, social, and cultural meaning of the category gender into social scientific analysis. Its objective is to recognize and understand the structural differences between the sexes, as well as to uncover societal mechanisms in the production and reproduction of gender differences in research work and to take these into account in the research.

One example is the gendered division of labor within society. In the traditional setup, the woman has the responsibility for the unpaid work within the household and family, while the man as the breadwinner is relieved of these duties in order to pursue paid work outside the home. This arrangement results in institutional settings and social conditions as well as specific ideas and clichés about “feminine” and “masculine” qualities and abilities. These have different effects, for example, on the labor supply, labor demand, chances for advancement, and wages of men and women. This type of approach can be used in the analysis of other markets as well.

The new interdisciplinary research area will provide a broader and more solidly anchored foundation for the study of gender issues at DIW Berlin. As an interdisciplinary network, it will strengthen DIW Berlin’s internal, regional, national and international cooperation in the field of gender research.