Sweden | April 5, 2026
A new doctoral thesis from KTH Royal Institute of Technology reveals that gender equality and diversity initiatives in male-dominated, technology-intensive environments are shaped more by organizational culture than by actual needs.Erika Blomstrand, a PhD candidate at the Department of Industrial Economics and Management (INDEK), studied how universities and fintech companies in Sweden handle gender equality practices. Her thesis, Shaped by Culture – Gender Equality Practices in Male-Dominated, Technology-Intensive Contexts, examines how culture influences which initiatives gain support and resources.Key FindingsInitiatives that fit the existing organizational values are more likely to succeed, while efforts that challenge power structures often struggle.In engineering education, gender equality work focuses on incorporating gender knowledge into curricula. In fintech, the focus is on increasing representation of underrepresented groups to foster innovation.Organizational norms, knowledge ideals, and unspoken rules about who is a legitimate change agent perpetuate inequality. Male actors often receive more legitimacy and support than female colleagues doing similar work.RecommendationsOrganizations should analyze the root causes of inequality rather than rely solely on culturally accepted practices.Collaborative efforts involving people with different skills and power positions improve the chances of meaningful change.Actively challenging norms and hierarchies is essential to avoid unintentionally reproducing inequality.Blomstrand continues to teach in engineering programs at KTH and contributes to InspireLab, KTH’s research center promoting inclusive technology to advance gender equality.
Source: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
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