This thematic area refers to the use of sex/gender analysis in all phases of the research cycle, which means taking into account both the biological characteristics of women and men (sex) and the evolving social and cultural characteristics of women and men (gender).
In some projects only a gender analysis will be relevant for research, for example, preclinical studies in cells and tissues, and in animals in most cases, or medical studies to develop new drugs.
In some others, only a gender analysis will be necessary (mainly in studies where biological differences do not play a role), for example, by reducing existing gender inequalities through the development of new tools aimed at detecting and preventing gender violence.
And in other cases, both sex and gender interact in a particular study, for example, in nutrition or exercise studies, where hormonal, physiological and cultural factors can influence the likelihood of disease.
Lines of action:
- promotion of the gender dimension in R&D&I projects,
- gender indicators in the monitoring and evaluation of funded projects, and
- Support for interdisciplinary research in gender studies.