A Gender-sensitive Tool to Promote Gender Equality in Academia. The Gender Budget Report

This paper discusses the role of gender budgeting in promoting gender equality in academia and research institutions. The elaboration of tools like the Gender Budget Report (Bilancio di Genere) is a significant starting point to promote gender equality. This empirical tool produces gender-sensitive data and statistics, crucial elements in the process of planning, monitoring and reviewing equal opportunities policies. In the Italian context, the culture of gender budgeting has only recently developed. This paper addresses the specific case of the University of Milano-Bicocca, established in 1998 and located in the Northeast of Milan. The first edition of the University of Milano-Bicocca Gender Budget Report was published in 2018. The document contained data specifically collected and analysed to critically assess the state-of-play of the local academic context − in terms of gender differences and inequalities − and to identify possible solutions to tackle gender imbalances. Gender budgeting is a crucial tool to detect gender bias and to implement policies that are sustainable, equitable and inclusive.