Is the lack of female representation in psychological research just an historical issue?

Abstract

A meta-analysis of 120 psychological articles published between 1900 and 2019 was conducted to assess the balance of female researchers and participants in the field, and if this has changed over time. This was an extension of Denmark’s (1977) study. This study found that there were significantly more male than female authors published, with little change over the decades, and published articles which cover topics relevant to women have not increased since Denmark assessed this area in 1977. Therefore, it was concluded that the lack of female representation in psychological research is still an area of significant concern. This under-representation may translate into theories which exclude women’s experiences, and may inform clinical practice, leading to practices which may not cater effectively to women’s needs. There is also a need for further research, using larger sample sizes and investigating the presence of ethnic and sexual minorities in publications.