Gender equality and Open Access (OA) are priorities within the European Research Area (ERA) and cross-cutting issues in European research program H2020. Gender and openness are also key elements of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI). However, despite the common underlying targets of fostering an inclusive, transparent and sustainable research environment, both issues are analysed as independent, unrelated topics. This paper represents a first exploration of the inter-linkages between gender and OA analysing the scientific production of researchers of the Italian National Research Council under a gender perspective integrated with the different OA publications modes. A bibliometric analysis was carried out for articles published in the period 2016-2018 and retrieved from the Web of Science. Results are presented constantly analysing CNR scientific production in relation to gender, disciplinary fields and OA publication modes. These variables are also used when analysing articles that receive financial support. Our results indicate that gender disparities in scientific production still persist in particularly in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), while in medical and agricultural sciences the gender gap is the closest to parity. A positive dynamic toward OA publishing and women scientific production is shown when open disciplines with well-established practices are related to articles supported by funds. A slightly higher women propensity toward OA is shown when considering Gold OA,OA or authorships with women in the first and last article by-line position. Moreover, the prevalence of Italian funded articles with women’s contributions published in Gold OA journals seems to confirm this tendency, especially if considering the week enforcement of the Italian OA policies.