The Women and Public Policy Program’s faculty, research fellows, and students are committed to advancing women and gender equity globally. Through rigorous research, we offer gender insights into work, politics, and conflict that have the potential to reduce or eliminate barriers so all people can fulfill their life aspirations unconstrained by gender bias.

Spotlight

Behind the Book: Iris Bohnet & Siri Chilazi’s “Make Work Fair”

Two leading gender experts and Harvard researchers reveal a new paradigm for fairness at work and offer professionals at every level, in any kind of organization, immediate, proven, and evidence-based ways to do their everyday work better and smarter—and more fairly. 

 

Gender Internship Opportunity in Puerto Rico

Applications are open for Harvard graduate students who are passionate about cultural exchange and community engagement. This immersive 8-week program provides interns with first-hand experience promoting cultural understanding and cooperation through diverse projects and initiatives.

Learn More and Apply
 

Research on Behaviorally-Designed Diversity Training

A new study co-authored by Iris Bohnet published in the academic journal Science, ‘Behaviorally Designed Training Leads to More Diverse Hiring,’ finds that certain kinds of diversity training can make a concrete difference in the actions of hiring managers, increasing the diversity of people hired.

 

Learn more about the research
 

WAPPP Spring Seminar Series: Make Work Fair

Our virtual seminar series explores what workplaces that work for everyone might look like, based on ideas from Iris Bohnet and Siri Chilazi's book 'Make Work Fair.' Seminars focus on research related to the framework outlined in the book— to make fairness count, make it stick, and make it "normal."

Register for the seminar series

Research & Programs

Work and Gender Equity (WAGE)

The WAGE research initiative focuses on data-driven strategies organizations can use to "debias" their systems and create more inclusive workplaces, as well as interventions that enhance individuals’ agency in negotiating more gender-equitable work arrangements, including paid and unpaid labor.

WAGE

Gender and Politics

The Gender and Politics initiative aims to advance research on representative democracy and equitable participation in governments across the globe. Our "Oval Office" training program inspires and supports nontraditional candidates to run for public office. 

Gender & Politics

Gender and Conflict

The Gender and Conflict initiative unites faculty, students, and researchers at Harvard Kennedy School and beyond to study gender in non-violent and violent social movements and the social and institutional factors influencing the prevalence of gender-based violence.

Gender & Conflict

Gender Action Portal (GAP)

GAP is an online collection of research evaluating the impact of specific policies, strategies, and organizational practices to advance gender equity.  

GAP

Research Fellowship Program

The fellowship's mission is to support and advance academic and practitioner-scholars in their gender-related research.

Fellowship Program

Other Programs and Initiatives

Explore all the programs, projects, and initiatives at the Women and Public Policy Program.

Other Initiatives
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Events
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News
DEI Study Proves Better Training Leads to More Diverse Hiring
How Meritocracies Make the Rich Richer
Jacinda Ardern on Her Documentary 'Prime Minister'
Publications
Harvard Kennedy School Logo
How Far Can Inclusion Go? The Long-term Impacts of Preferential College Admissions
Non-Binary Gender Economics
Incorporating DEI into Decision-Making
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF LAND AND PEOPLE

The Women and Public Policy Program and the Harvard Kennedy School are located on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary unceded homeland of the Massachusett people, the surviving descendants of the first people of Massachusetts and of the Neponset band of the Massachusett. We honor this tradition and work toward a gender equity agenda that addresses the needs of all women, including Indigenous women and Indigenous communities. For more information, please visit our GAP Land Acknowledgement resource page.