“We are to weather this storm”: Analysis of announcements of the rector of the University of Iceland during Covid-19

• Main Authors: Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét, Heijstra, Thamar Melanie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Icelandic
• Published: Menntavísindasvið Háskóla Íslands 2023
• Subjects: Covid 19; gender equality; teaching; University of Iceland policy; discourse analysis; Covid-19; kynjajafnrétti; kennsla; stefna Háskóla Íslands; orðræðugreining; Iceland
• Online Access: https://ojs.hi.is/index.php/tuuom/article/view/3640

Various studies point to the importance of guarding gender equality in times of Covid-19 as there is the risk of backlash (Al-Ali, 2020; Zarkov, 2020), both because the situation of subordinate groups tends to worsen and, in times of uncertainty, equal rights tend to be put aside. In this article we analyse the announcements sent out in the name of the Rector of the University of Iceland to students and staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. We ask what was the response of the University of Iceland to the Covid-19 pandemic? What messages were communicated to the UI staff of a university that presents itself as a leading university and how did these messages conform to UI policies regarding gender equality and family responsibilities? In order to answer this question, we analyse 96 announcements sent between February 2020 and May 2021, and consisted, after data cleaning, of around 34,000 words. We analyse the data from a gender perspective and utilise discourse analysis.The findings reveal that the University of Iceland responded by sending out announcements regularly, with the aim of keeping both staff and students informed about the way UI was reacting to and implementing instructions given out by the disease prevention authorities. By informing students and teachers simultaneously about the situation, the impression was given that everyone was in the same boat. However, in reality this was not the case as different groups faced different challenges. Teachers were expected to take additional responsibility regarding the welfare of students, not only in relation to teaching, assignments and course assessment, but also regarding students’ financial circumstances and well-being. It can, therefore, be argued that expectations regarding academic housework and academic caring were raised substantially. This analysis connects to the university’s policies regarding gender equality and family responsibilities. Women attend to teaching to a larger extent than men and research shows that women are simply expected to take on ...