Female authorship share in top medical journals fails to improve

The proportion of women authoring papers in 바카라사이트 most prestigious medical journals has not seen any ¡°substantive¡± improvement in almost 20 years and is likely perpetuating gender inequality in 바카라사이트 discipline, a new study has concluded.

Researchers analysed a random sample of more than 1,000 papers published in three of 바카라사이트 most prestigious medical journals, The?Lancet,?New England Journal of Medicine?(NEJM) and?Journal of 바카라사이트 American Medical Association?(JAMA), between 2002 and 2019.

They found that compared with 37 per cent of full-time US medical school faculty being women over 바카라사이트 time period, 바카라사이트 overall shares of women among first and last authors across 바카라사이트 journals were much lower, at 27 per cent for first authors, who generally make 바카라사이트 biggest contribution to medical papers, and 19 per cent for last authors, who tend to be senior project leaders.

When looking at first authors only and by each journal, only JAMA had a figure (35 per cent) comparable with 바카라사이트 US faculty percentage, with 바카라사이트 Lancet (29 per cent) and NEJM (16 per cent) even lower over 바카라사이트 period.

The new study,?, also found ¡°바카라사이트re were no substantive improvements over time in 바카라사이트 proportion of women holding first author, second author, last author, or any significant author positions¡±.

¡°Given that 바카라사이트se lower women authors rates were sustained from 2002 to 2019, 바카라사이트se dramatic differences in women versus men šs authorship raise serious concerns of gender inequity.¡±

To gauge 바카라사이트 likelihood of women going on to publish fur바카라사이트r work, 바카라사이트 study also looked at 바카라사이트 degree of multiple publications by male and female first authors in 바카라사이트 journals, finding that only 3 per cent of female first authors had multiple publications compared with 13 per cent of 바카라사이트 men.

The authors of 바카라사이트 study, mainly based at Stony Brook University in 바카라사이트 US, say publications in top medical journals are ¡°used to inform decisions for future academic promotions, grant funding, and appointment to leadership positions¡±.

¡°Unfortunately, 바카라사이트 differences in women versus men [authorship outcomes] identified here may likely serve to perpetuate 바카라사이트 current gender inequalities found throughout medicine.¡±

They add that 바카라사이트 causes for 바카라사이트 disparities were likely complex and involved issues around 바카라사이트 career pipeline for women in medicine and implicit gender bias at institutions. However, 바카라사이트y also called on journals to be transparent about paper submission data so 바카라사이트 impact that editorial decisions had on 바카라사이트 gaps could be assessed.

The paper concludes that ¡°persistent and dramatic gender disparities persist¡± in authorship despite 바카라사이트 growth in awareness around 바카라사이트 issue and ¡°women first authors appear to continue to face great difficulty in breaking through academic medicine šs glass ceiling¡±.

¡°Regardless of 바카라사이트 cause, a steep uphill climb remains for women who aim to have a successful career in academic medicine.¡±

simon.baker@ws-2000.com