IS THERE AN EDITORIAL GLASS CEILING? A GENDER-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF NEPHROLOGY AND TRANSPLANTATION JOURNALS.
Dr Rose-marie Scarlato1,2, Professor Kate Wyburn1,2, Dr Melanie Wyld1,3
1Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia, 2Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, Australia, 3Department of Renal and Transplant Medicine, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
Aim: The aim of this study was to examine gender representation amongst editors in chief (EiC) in nephrology and transplantation journals. Background: EiC play a key role in academic medicine, often shaping research agendas and academic careers. Women are historically underrepresented in EiC roles in medicine. An analysis of nephrology and transplantation journals has not been conducted. Methods: A cross sectional analysis of EiC of nephrology and transplantation journals, as listed by Journal Citation Reports (JCR), was performed using binary gender classification (woman/ man). The primary outcome was the proportion of women EiC. Secondary outcome was the proportion of women EiC based on journal topic, location and metrics. Descriptive statistics were used. Gender differences were compared using students t-test or Fisher’s exact test. Results: 73 journals met inclusion criteria. Of these 52(70%) were nephrology journals and 21(29%) were transplantation journals. Of the 73 journals there were a total of 79 EiC as 6(8%) journals had co-EiC. 16 (20%) of EiC were women and 63(80%) were men (p<0.001). The low proportion of women to men EiC did not differ when assessed by journal type (p=0.93), location (p=0.61), journal impact factor (p= 0.71) or quartile (p=0.59). Nephrology and transplantation journals had 20% and 21% women EiC, respectively. Journals published in North America had 6 (25%) women, compared to 8 (20%) in Western Europe and no women EiC in Asia -Pacific. Conclusions: We found a significant disparity in gender representation in EiC in nephrology and transplantation journals, with men holding 80% of all EiC positions. These findings, amongst growing evidence of underrepresentation of women, highlight a need for targeted efforts to promote gender equity in academic medicine.
Biography:
Early career nephrologist currently working in academic medicine at the University of Sydney with an interest in equity and diversity in academic and clinical medicine. Current candidate for a Master of Philosophy via research with the University of Sydney.