Moreover, for high-impact journals, the likelihood a woman will be published as the first, last or corresponding author decreases significantly as the impact factor of the journal increases 11. Although manuscripts with female first authors are equally likely to be accepted as those with male first authors, papers with a male last or corresponding author are 3.0% and 3.7% more likely to be accepted than those with a female last or corresponding author, respectively 12.
At the current rate of increase of 0.5% in female authors per year, we will not reach gender parity in last author position for at least 50 years in biology and molecular biology 10. In biology and molecular biology, with overall representation of 37–38% female authorship, these trends are driven by near gender parity in the first author position (43–45% female authors) however, women represent only 27–28% of last authors 10, 11.
Out of 115 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields identified by the sociology of science website, only 28 have reached 50% female authors overall. This same data-driven approach that guides our research should be applied to maximize the innovation and productivity of our scientific and academic community. As scientists, we are trained to objectively collect and evaluate the data available and carefully interpret them to reach empirically based conclusions. Women face biases and barriers at all turns within the scientific community, from publishing, funding and hiring, to promotion to more senior positions. Yet the assembled data suggest that it is impossible for the marginalized to solve these problems themselves.
#How to use scientific workplace 6 how to
Recently, a Nature feature offered advice from female scientists on how to confront the barriers we face 2. Thus, we should be using data to understand the barriers that have prevented attainment of this goal, as well as the potential solutions. Increased gender and racial diversity benefits scientific progress through increased innovation 1 however, few would argue we have reached optimal diversity along gender or racial lines.