Gender imbalance in science journals is still pervasive

The trouble with girls: obstacles to women’s success in medicine and research—an essay by Laurie Garrett

“…. are accepted with a lower rate than those from male authors.”27 The 10 Lancet journals also found that none approached gender parity in publishing female first or last authored papers: overall, about a third of papers have a female primary author 28. And Science found a similar distribution in its publications 29…”

Women in freshwater science: challenges and solutions for achieving equity

“…These include barriers to scientific productivity and recognition (e.g. lower rates of acceptance for papers, publishing in less-prestigious journals, less grant funding and fewer invitations to conferences due to gender bias) (Anon. 2017;Holman et al 2018;Nittrouer et al 2018;Sheltzer 2018;Astegiano et al 2019, European Commission 2019Fox and Paine 2019), gendered institutional cultures leading to bias at all stages of professional life (from recruitment and selection, to recommendation, evaluation, promotion, training, and compensation) (Heilman and Eagly 2008;Bohnet 2016;Botelho and Abraham 2017) and social cultures leading to imbalances in caring responsibilities (Howe-Walsh and Turnbull 2016) as well as incorrect and biased perceptions of reduced performance by mothers (Correll et al 2007).…”

Prospective analyses of sex/gender-related publication decisions in general medical journals: editorial rejection of population-based women’s reproductive physiology

“…In reviewing its 2012–2013 and 2014–2016 publishing, Nature found that few ‘News & Views’ articles were women-authored; this improved from 12% (in 2011) to 25% (in 2016). 17 It is possible that one reason for fewer women’s commentaries was that fewer recommended reviewers were women. From 2011 to 2014, the percentage of women recommended as Nature reviewers increased from 14% to 23%; it had decreased by 2016, however, to 12%.…”

“…From 2011 to 2014, the percentage of women recommended as Nature reviewers increased from 14% to 23%; it had decreased by 2016, however, to 12%. 17 A Nature analysis of a geophysical journal in 2017 noted women reviewers were suggested fivefold less often than men by editors and by both men and women authors. 18 Despite the journal’s concerted intent, women remain poorly represented in Nature , leading to less diversity of ideas and expertise.…”

“… 18 Despite the journal’s concerted intent, women remain poorly represented in Nature , leading to less diversity of ideas and expertise. 17 Women have become a higher proportion of first authors on cardiovascular and life science publications in the past decade (5%–20%). 19 However, this increase occurred only in low impact general medical journals.…”