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A study by physicists Fariba Karimi and her team has confirmed that women are underrepresented in physics, but found that the gender gap is largely due to a first-mover advantage enjoyed by men. The research suggests that women face higher entry barriers and structural inequalities, leading to differences in citation recognition.

SourceComplexity Science Hub·JournalCommunications Physics·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 13, 2022

Career advancement slower for women in entomology, study finds

Women pursuing careers in entomology face persistent challenges in obtaining jobs compared to men. The study found that men published more research articles and were first authors on average, leading to higher H-index scores. Women are also less likely to hold industry positions as technical representatives and research scientists.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalAnnals of the Entomological Society of America·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateOct 12, 2022

Gender inequities in mentoring may disproportionately affect women researchers

A new analysis of mentoring relationships in academic research reveals that gender inequities in resources available to women mentors may indirectly affect their trainees. Trainees with female mentors were less likely to become academic mentors themselves, a disparity reduced when accounting for institutional bias factors.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeObservational study·DateSep 8, 2022

When heart-assisting implants could save a life, patients who are Black or female don’t get them as often

A new study reveals racial and gender disparities in access to life-saving heart-assisting implants, with Black patients and women facing lower rates of surgery. Despite similar survival rates, the findings suggest that unconscious bias may be influencing healthcare provider decisions.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJAMA Network Open·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 1, 2022

Top-tier research institutions form alliance to explore equitable career advancement in higher education

Carnegie Mellon University, Johns Hopkins University, and New York University team up with a $3 million NSF grant to develop Project ELEVATE, promoting equitable STEM career advancement for underrepresented faculty. The alliance aims to create a collaborative community for institutional change at private research institutions.

Words matter: How to reduce gender bias with word choice

A commentary in Trends in Cognitive Sciences suggests using gender-neutral terms to minimize gender bias, while a 'gender-marking' approach can highlight women's success in male-dominated fields. However, this latter approach may reinforce negative stereotypes if used thoughtlessly.

SourceCell Press·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateJun 10, 2022

Injured women half as likely as men to receive life-saving drug

A new study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine found that injured women are half as likely as men to receive the life-saving drug TXA, despite the treatment being equally effective regardless of sex. The study highlights a significant disparity in trauma care, with clinicians needing clearer guidance to reduce bias.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalBritish Journal of Anaesthesia·DateMay 18, 2022

Time to shift research focus from ‘bikini medicine’ to what is really ailing women

A new study found that women's health research is disproportionately focused on reproductive years, particularly pregnancy, leaving few articles on major causes of illness and death. Non-communicable diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, are poorly covered in women's health publications.

SourceGeorge Institute for Global Health·JournalJournal of Women s Health·TypeSystematic review·DateMar 29, 2022

Medical equality undermined by mistaken male doctors

A UK-based study surveyed 425 doctors, finding that both male and female overestimated the proportion of women in various roles. However, men who made this mistake showed significantly lower support for gender-equality initiatives. The research highlights the need to address these misconceptions to achieve progress toward gender equali...

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalBMJ Open·TypeSurvey·DateMar 21, 2022

Chef’s kiss: Research shows healthy home cooking equals a healthy mind

Researchers at Edith Cowan University found that a 7-week healthy cooking course improved participants' general health, mental health, and self-perceived mental well-being. Cooking confidence also increased significantly, particularly among women, who reported improved mental health benefits despite no changes in diet quality.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalFrontiers in Nutrition·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateMar 20, 2022

Structural sexism and anti-LGB stigma linked to poor birth outcomes in the US

New research links structural sexism and anti-LGB stigma with increased risk of preterm birth and decreased birth weight, regardless of the mother's sexual orientation. The study found that these systemic issues can limit access to reproductive health care and socioeconomic opportunities, contributing to adverse birth outcomes.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalDemography·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateFeb 14, 2022

Mitigating the effects of gender bias in clinical trials

Researchers at Technion have developed a technology that compensates for the underrepresentation of women in clinical trials, using machine learning models. The tool improves predictions for women in various situations and also enhances overall clinical predictions, leading to better personalized medicine.

SourceTechnion-Israel Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 31, 2022

When job seekers are “overqualified,” gender bias may come into play

A new UC San Diego study reveals that overqualified women are more likely to be hired for jobs and ranks compared to sufficiently qualified men. Hiring managers assume overqualified women leave due to gender discrimination, rather than flight risk. This suggests firms may not be utilizing their expertise and experience effectively.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalOrganization Science·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

Persistent gender bias found in scientific research and related course materials: A long-term linguistic analysis

Two studies published in Language reveal persistent gender bias in both peer-reviewed journal articles and course materials used in linguistics. Linguistics textbooks exhibit male-gendered protagonists more often, while research articles show stereotypes about men and women, with non-binary identities absent.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 6, 2021

‘Superhuman, but never enough’: Essay details inequities experienced by Black women physicians in the United States

Black women physicians in the United States encounter barriers such as lower earnings and reduced promotion opportunities, despite having the same training and expertise as their colleagues. The essay highlights the need for sustained efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic medicine to address these disparities.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalThe Lancet·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateOct 15, 2021

For neuroscientists and researchers in general, a checklist for eliminating gender bias

A comprehensive checklist for eliminating gender bias in academia is provided by researchers Anaïs Llorens and Athina Tzovara. The study highlights various forms of gender bias, including their impact on women's careers, work-life balance, and mental health. By implementing this checklist, individuals can remedy these biases and create...

Want to hire more women? Expand your short list

A Cornell University study reveals that increasing the length of an initial job candidate shortlist can help hiring managers consider female candidates more, supporting gender equity efforts. By extending this list, it can increase the consideration of female candidates in male-dominant domains.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateFeb 11, 2021

You drive like a girl: Study shows gender bias in perceptions of ride-sharing performance

A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that gender bias exists in ride-sharing performance ratings, with female drivers receiving significantly lower ratings when their performance is poor compared to male drivers. The researchers created an online experiment where participants rated driver performance, finding that custom...

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of Business Ethics·DateNov 9, 2020

Hubble turns lens towards gender bias, yielding lessons for Earthlings

Researchers analyzed 16 application cycles for Hubble Space Telescope time allocations and found that stripping out personal info can nearly eliminate gender bias. Female lead scientists performed slightly better than men when proposals were completely anonymized, indicating a more equitable review process.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalPublications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific·DateFeb 18, 2020

Occupational gender bias prevalent in online images, Rutgers study finds

A Rutgers study found that online images of men and women in certain occupations tend to reinforce existing gender stereotypes. The research analyzed search results from four digital media platforms and compared them to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' data, revealing prevalent biases in librarianship, nursing, computer programming...

SourceRutgers University·JournalJournal of the Association for Information Science and Technology·DateFeb 3, 2020