OIDA International Journal of Sustainable Development
Open-access peer-reviewed journal
https://doi.org/10.64211/oidaijsd190819
The Effect of the Absence of Gender Mainstreaming on the Persistence of Gender Blindness
Debbie Jansen 1 and Shikha Vyas-Doorgapersad 2*
1 School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy; College of Business and Economics; University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
2 School of Public Management, Governance and Public Policy, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, South Africa.
*Corresponding author: svyas-doorgapersad@uj.ac.za
Volume 19, Issue 08, Pg. 273-284, 2026
Abstract: Gender mainstreaming has been widely adopted as a global strategy for achieving gender equality since its formalisation at the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995. Originating from feminist critiques of development and governance, it has evolved from a marginal concern into an institutionalised framework embedded within international organisations, national governments, and local governance systems. Despite its institutionalisation within policy frameworks, particularly in countries such as South Africa with progressive constitutional and legislative commitments to equality, its implementation remains uneven and frequently ineffective. This article advances a theoretical analysis of the relationship between the absence or inadequate application of gender mainstreaming and the persistence of gender blindness. The article interrogates the paradox between progressive gender policies and persistent gender inequalities in practice. It highlights how bureaucratic inertia, limited capacity, fragmented accountability, and the depoliticisation of gender discourse contribute to ineffective mainstreaming and, consequently, gender-blind outcomes.
Keywords: gender equality, gender mainstreaming, gender blindness, gender neutrality
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