Parity – Does it extend beyond the social context?
The theme for International Women’s Day 2016 i.e. “pledge for parity” and recent trends in studies related to gender differences across disciplines makes the paper by Filardo et al. well-timed.[1] Across countries, women face different set of challenges than men do, which invariably has an influence on their professional growth. It is worthwhile exploring and looking at ways to understand and address the reasons for the under-representation of women across academic and research positions.
Addressing parity with regard to first authorship although novel, is just one of the many ways to analyse the existing gap. Articles with good citations published in high impact factor journals, can be screened for analyzing the number of senior and corresponding authors who are women, and the proportion and representation of women co-authors among articles. It will also be of interest to see if any of the articles are solely written by women authors which is very common among their male counterparts. Using a wider pool of journals may give us a different perspective with regard to parity.
Women form the center of the family, which biologically is above all, leading to a different work-life and work-family balance as compared to their male counterparts.[2] National health policies (with regards to maternity benefits), institutional policies and sociocultural norms across countries could augment this disparity. The age group of the women who are publishing and the trend with regard to their average age will help us understand if women of child bearing age are the ones who are primarily under-represented.
Few may consider discussing gender differences in every context imprudent. However, the gap that exists with regard to scientific research profile is very important. The existing disparity makes one reconsider whether it is fair to draw direct comparisons of research profiles of women with men. The paper by Filardo et al. compels us to explore and understand the reasons for this disparity, the impact of the additional roles that women have on their professional growth and understand how some women still continue to deliver regardless of their responsibilities.[1] For those who continue to outperform, does the academic or health policies of the institutions they belong to provide them flexibility, or are they just born superwomen!
References:
1. Filardo G, da Graca B, Sass DM, Pollock BD, Smith EB, Martinez MA. Trends and comparison of female first authorship in high impact medical journals: observational study (1994-2014). BMJ. 2016 Mar 2;352:i847. doi:10.1136/bmj.i847. PubMed PMID: 26935100; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4775869.
2. Sheriff SD. Re: Trends and comparison of female first authorship in high impact medical journals:observational study (1994-2014). http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i847/rr
Competing interests: None declared
Pratiksha Tilak Rao, Physiotherapist
Abraham Samuel Babu, Physiotherapist *, Sundar Kumar Veluswamy, Physiotherapist **
School of Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai - 410209, Maharashtra, India. *Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal - 576104, Karnataka, India, **Department of Physiotherapy, MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore - 560054, Karnataka, India
Competing interests:
No competing interests
24 March 2016
Pratiksha T Rao
Physiotherapist
Abraham Samuel Babu, Sundar Kumar Veluswamy
School of Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Health Sciences
School of Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai - 410209, Maharashtra, India
Rapid Response:
Parity – Does it extend beyond the social context?
The theme for International Women’s Day 2016 i.e. “pledge for parity” and recent trends in studies related to gender differences across disciplines makes the paper by Filardo et al. well-timed.[1] Across countries, women face different set of challenges than men do, which invariably has an influence on their professional growth. It is worthwhile exploring and looking at ways to understand and address the reasons for the under-representation of women across academic and research positions.
Addressing parity with regard to first authorship although novel, is just one of the many ways to analyse the existing gap. Articles with good citations published in high impact factor journals, can be screened for analyzing the number of senior and corresponding authors who are women, and the proportion and representation of women co-authors among articles. It will also be of interest to see if any of the articles are solely written by women authors which is very common among their male counterparts. Using a wider pool of journals may give us a different perspective with regard to parity.
Women form the center of the family, which biologically is above all, leading to a different work-life and work-family balance as compared to their male counterparts.[2] National health policies (with regards to maternity benefits), institutional policies and sociocultural norms across countries could augment this disparity. The age group of the women who are publishing and the trend with regard to their average age will help us understand if women of child bearing age are the ones who are primarily under-represented.
Few may consider discussing gender differences in every context imprudent. However, the gap that exists with regard to scientific research profile is very important. The existing disparity makes one reconsider whether it is fair to draw direct comparisons of research profiles of women with men. The paper by Filardo et al. compels us to explore and understand the reasons for this disparity, the impact of the additional roles that women have on their professional growth and understand how some women still continue to deliver regardless of their responsibilities.[1] For those who continue to outperform, does the academic or health policies of the institutions they belong to provide them flexibility, or are they just born superwomen!
References:
1. Filardo G, da Graca B, Sass DM, Pollock BD, Smith EB, Martinez MA. Trends and comparison of female first authorship in high impact medical journals: observational study (1994-2014). BMJ. 2016 Mar 2;352:i847. doi:10.1136/bmj.i847. PubMed PMID: 26935100; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4775869.
2. Sheriff SD. Re: Trends and comparison of female first authorship in high impact medical journals:observational study (1994-2014). http://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i847/rr
Competing interests: None declared
Pratiksha Tilak Rao, Physiotherapist
Abraham Samuel Babu, Physiotherapist *, Sundar Kumar Veluswamy, Physiotherapist **
School of Physiotherapy, MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai - 410209, Maharashtra, India. *Department of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health Sciences, Manipal University, Manipal - 576104, Karnataka, India, **Department of Physiotherapy, MS Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore - 560054, Karnataka, India
Competing interests: No competing interests