Face Gender Research Articles

Insights Into Facial Surgery Trends in the United States in the Setting of Gender Dysphoria: A National Analysis From 2012 to 2019.

Over the past decade, there has been an improvement in access to gender-affirming surgical care for the transgender population. Even with improvements, this population continues with a high level of inequity among access to specialized surgical care. While multiple studies have previously focused on trends among top and bottom surgery, this study provides trends specifically among facial gender affirmation surgery (FGAS) within the United States. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was utilized to identify patients who underwent FGAS from 2012 to 2019. The diagnostic codes for gender identity disorder and gender dysphoria were used to identify the desired patient population. CPT coding released in a medical policy for transgender care coverage was used to identify those who underwent FGAS. Frequency distributions from the patient population were analyzed to determine differences among characteristics. In total, 660 patients underwent FGAS from 2012 to 2019. The incidence of FGAS has increased by 1433%. Geographically, FGAS was more likely to be performed in the West and Northeast geographical regions (P<0.0001). There was a statistically significant difference in hospital length of stay and the total number of charges when stratified by race (P<0.0001 and P=0.0003), hospital location (P<0.0001 and <0.0001), and insurance type (P<0.0001 and <0.0001). The largest cohort of patients paid out-of-pocket (P<0.0001). FGAS is one of the fastest-growing GAS procedures. Currently, FGAS procedures are not equally distributed, with higher concentrations occurring among wealthier, white individuals in certain geographical regions. Future studies are warranted to understand further trends within FGAS.

Working for Jessica or Michael? Implications of gender stereotypes for job application intentions at technology startups

AbstractResearch SummaryWe examine a critical yet underexplored aspect of human resource management in nascent technology ventures: employee recruitment. Applying theories of gender stereotyping, we contend that female‐led technology startups face greater obstacles in attracting job applicants than their male counterparts. Evidence from a randomized online experiment conducted in 2020/2021 with 777 US job seekers substantiates this barrier, indicating that the disparities are partly rooted in gender‐stereotypical perceptions of female technology entrepreneurs as less competent, agentic, and warm, which contribute to less favorable assessments of their ventures' economic potential and employee empowerment potential. Startups with gender‐diverse leadership teams appear to overcome these biases. Confirmatory evidence comes from a 2024 replication study with 455 US job seekers, underscoring the need to address gender biases in the technological ecosystem.Managerial SummaryIn the competitive landscape of technology startups, attracting talent is key. Our study reveals that startups with female leaders face gender biases during recruitment, with job candidates perceiving female technology entrepreneurs as less competent, agentic, and warm—and their startup ventures as less likely to have what it takes to grow and to empower employees. Analysis from a randomized online experiment involving 777 US job seekers in 2020/2021 and a follow‐up study with 455 US job seekers in 2024 confirm such biases. Crucially, a gender‐balanced leadership team significantly counters such biases, enhancing the venture's appeal to potential hires. These insights highlight the need for technology startups to promote gender diversity within their leadership to dismantle stereotypes and attract a broader talent pool.

The evolution of a large-scale facial gender affirmation program: A comparative outcomes analysis

BackgroundThe volume of facial feminization surgery (FFS) performed has increased tremendously over the last decade as new gender affirmation programs have formed. Advancements in surgical planning and treatment protocols have resulted in complex, multiprocedural FFS operations. This study examines the characteristics and outcomes of a large-scale FFS program over a 5-year lifespan. MethodsA retrospective analysis was performed of all patients who underwent FFS in a high-volume integrated healthcare system from program initiation in 2018-2019 (early cohort) to maturation in 2021-2022 (late cohort). Patient charts were reviewed for demographic factors, operative details, complications, postoperative Emergency Department or Urgent Care (ED/UC) visits, revisions, and readmissions. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between early and late cohorts. Results191 patients were included, with 109 in the early cohort and 82 in the late cohort. Patient demographics were similar except mean age (40.3 years early cohort versus 36.3 years late cohort, p=0.03). Patients in the late cohort had longer operations (5.40hours versus 6.16hours, p=0.008) with a greater percentage of patients receiving genioplasty, rhinoplasty, fat grafting, or lip lift. Despite this, fewer patients in the late cohort were admitted postoperatively (62.4% versus 13.4%, p<0.001). There were no differences in total complications, minor complications, revisions, ED/UC visits, or readmissions. However, major complications were significantly more common in the early cohort (4.6% versus 0.0%, p=0.05). ConclusionAs a nascent FFS program matures, the number of procedures in a single operation increased along with operative length. Major complications and postoperative admission rates decreased while total complications remained low.

Engaging today's undergraduate students with the field of dairy science with a focus on the female student population

The dairy industry has profound economic importance, and individuals earning post-secondary degrees within dairy science-related fields are future industry leaders. Yet, enrollment at universities is declining and there is a labor shortage within the dairy industry. The objective of this review article is to highlight current trends within academia, identify some techniques to improve student experiences within higher education, and describe successful education strategies employed within dairy science-related fields. The proportion of female students within academia and agriculture-related degrees is growing; however, women still face gender bias and report higher incidence of mental health symptomology during their enrollment. With this, there is a profound need to address mental health-related issues throughout higher education, especially for the female student population. Additionally, active learning approaches and high-impact practices such as flipped classrooms, animal handling courses, capstone experiences, internships, and undergraduate research have shown promising benefits when employed in dairy and animal science-related fields. Universities play a critical role in guiding the future leaders of the dairy industry into successful and fulfilling careers, and this review highlights some pertinent strategies to improve the engagement of dairy science undergraduate students.

The ripple effects of climate change on agricultural sustainability and food security in Africa

AbstractClimate change results in lower agricultural outputs, disruption of food supply chains, and widening of the social gap between poor and rich in developing countries, with more vulnerable groups being pushed into untold poverty. This review aims to investigate the consequences of climate change on food insecurity in Africa in the context of environmental degradation. This review emphasizes the complexity of demands on food security systems due to changing climatic conditions under the four pillars (availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability). This review demonstrated the susceptibility of farm production to changes in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns generated by climate change. In addition, this review investigated the factors shaping food insecurity, such as increasing population growth, poverty, inadequate early warning systems, and weak agricultural infrastructure. Furthermore, the review points out how climate change affects food prices and availability and the widening income gap, potentially leading to social unrest and political instability in Africa. Vulnerable populations, including impoverished, elderly, and physically challenged individuals, are at increased risk due to climate‐related health impacts. Women who face gender inequalities and socioeconomic limitations are particularly susceptible. We posit that there is a need for comprehensive strategies that address health disparities and consider vulnerable subgroups within society alongside broader measures to enhance food security in the face of climate change.

Gender discrimination lawsuits: How board gender diversity impacts gender litigation likelihood and outcomes

Gender discrimination in firms is an ongoing problem, yet we know little about whether board gender diversity affects gender discrimination litigation. Boards are an important and visible component of an organization’s leadership and are positioned to influence firm policies and attitudes. Using social identity theory, we consider how board gender diversity impacts firms that face gender discrimination lawsuits. Furthermore, we explore how greater board gender diversity provides reputational capital which acts as insurance against litigation outcomes. Using a dataset of gender discrimination lawsuits and experiments simulating jury decision making, we hypothesize that more gender diversity on the board will protect firms from gender discrimination litigation and its outcomes. We find that firms with greater board gender diversity are at a higher likelihood of incurring gender discrimination litigation yet receive more favorable decisions by judges and juries including a greater likelihood of receiving favorable verdicts and of paying lower damages.

Vains of Ink and Blood: The Cost of Truth for Fearless Women

Abstract: In a world where information holds the power to change reality, mass media and journalists play a crucial role in uncovering the truth and upending the power system. Among them, women journalists stand out not only for their journalistic prowess but also for their courage in the face of challenging circumstances. Women journalists bring diverse perspectives to the newsroom, which ensures more comprehensive coverage of a news story that helps highlight issues that are often overlooked or underrepresented such as gender-based violence, human rights abuses, and social inequalities. Despite their significant contributions they have to face gender discrimination in the workplace, unequal pay, limited opportunities, and even have to sacrifice their life to reveal the truth. The primary objective of this research paper is to examine the tragic incidents such as murder or harassment of women journalists and discuss the case study. Based on existing secondary data a qualitative analysis will be conducted on this paper. The findings of this exploratory study will highlight the critical role journalists play in exposing corruption, violence or injustice. In order to maintain press freedom and protect individuals who challenge power systems, this study will shed light on the need for their security as well as the protection of journalists, especially women.

You're Beautiful When You Smile: Event-Related Brain Potential (ERP) Evidence of Early Opposite-Gender Bias in Happy Faces.

Studies of social cognition have shown gender differences regarding human face processing. One interesting finding is the enhanced processing of opposite-gender faces at different time stages, as revealed by event-related brain potentials. Crucially, from an evolutionary perspective, such a bias might interact with the emotional expression of the face. To investigate this, 100 participants (50 female, 50 male) completed an expression-detection task while their EEG was recorded. In three blocks, fearful, happy and neutral faces (female and male) were randomly presented, with participants instructed to respond to only one predefined target expression level in each block. Using linear mixed models, we observed both faster reaction times as well as larger P1 and late positive potential (LPP) amplitudes for women compared to men, supporting a generally greater female interest in faces. Highly interestingly, the analysis revealed an opposite-gender bias at P1 for happy target faces. This suggests that participants' attentional templates may include more opposite-gender facial features when selectively attending to happy faces. While N170 was influenced by neither the face nor the participant gender, LPP was modulated by the face gender and specific combinations of the target status, face gender and expression, which is interpreted in the context of gender-emotion stereotypes. Future research should further investigate this expression and attention dependency of early opposite-gender biases.

Pre-frontal cortex guides dimension-reducing transformations in the occipito-ventral pathway for categorization behaviors

To interpret our surroundings, the brain uses a visual categorization process. Current theories and models suggest that this process comprises a hierarchy of different computations that transforms complex, high-dimensional inputs into lower-dimensional representations (i.e., manifolds) in support of multiple categorization behaviors. Here, we tested this hypothesis by analyzing these transformations reflected in dynamic MEG source activity while individual participants actively categorized the same stimuli according to different tasks: face expression, face gender, pedestrian gender, and vehicle type. Results reveal three transformation stages guided by the pre-frontal cortex. At stage 1 (high-dimensional, 50-120ms), occipital sources represent both task-relevant and task-irrelevant stimulus features; task-relevant features advance into higher ventral/dorsal regions, whereas task-irrelevant features halt at the occipital-temporal junction. At stage 2 (121-150ms), stimulus feature representations reduce to lower-dimensional manifolds, which then transform into the task-relevant features underlying categorization behavior over stage 3 (161-350ms). Our findings shed light on how the brain's network mechanisms transform high-dimensional inputs into specific feature manifolds that support multiple categorization behaviors.

Deep learning based features extraction for facial gender classification using ensemble of machine learning technique

Deep learning based features extraction for facial gender classification using ensemble of machine learning technique

Stacked ensemble learning for facial gender classification using deep learning based features extraction

Stacked ensemble learning for facial gender classification using deep learning based features extraction

Acute neural effects of the mood stabiliser lamotrigine on emotional processing in healthy volunteers: a randomised control trial.

Lamotrigine is an effective mood stabiliser, largely used for the management and prevention of depression in bipolar disorder. The neuropsychological mechanisms by which lamotrigine acts to relieve symptoms as well as its neural effects on emotional processing remain unclear. The primary objective of this current study was to investigate the impact of an acute dose of lamotrigine on the neural response to a well-characterised fMRI task probing implicit emotional processing relevant to negative bias. 31 healthy participants were administered either a single dose of lamotrigine (300 mg, n = 14) or placebo (n = 17) in a randomized, double-blind design. Inside the 3 T MRI scanner, participants completed a covert emotional faces gender discrimination task. Brain activations showing significant group differences were identified using voxel-wise general linear model (GLM) nonparametric permutation testing, with threshold free cluster enhancement (TFCE) and a family wise error (FWE)-corrected cluster significance threshold of p < 0.05. Participants receiving lamotrigine were more accurate at identifying the gender of fearful (but not happy or angry) faces. A network of regions associated with emotional processing, including amygdala, insula, and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), was significantly less activated in the lamotrigine group compared to the placebo group across emotional facial expressions. A single dose of lamotrigine reduced activation in limbic areas in response to faces with both positive and negative expressions, suggesting a valence-independent effect. However, at a behavioural level lamotrigine appeared to reduce the distracting effect of fear on face discrimination. Such effects may be relevant to the mood stabilisation effects of lamotrigine.

The resolution of face perception varies systematically across the visual field.

Visual abilities tend to vary predictably across the visual field-for simple low-level stimuli, visibility is better along the horizontal vs. vertical meridian and in the lower vs. upper visual field. In contrast, face perception abilities have been reported to show either distinct or entirely idiosyncratic patterns of variation in peripheral vision, suggesting a dissociation between the spatial properties of low- and higher-level vision. To assess this link more clearly, we extended methods used in low-level vision to develop an acuity test for face perception, measuring the smallest size at which facial gender can be reliably judged in peripheral vision. In 3 experiments, we show the characteristic inversion effect, with better acuity for upright faces than inverted, demonstrating the engagement of high-level face-selective processes in peripheral vision. We also observe a clear advantage for gender acuity on the horizontal vs. vertical meridian and a smaller-but-consistent lower- vs. upper-field advantage. These visual field variations match those of low-level vision, indicating that higher-level face processing abilities either inherit or actively maintain the characteristic patterns of spatial selectivity found in early vision. The commonality of these spatial variations throughout the visual hierarchy means that the location of faces in our visual field systematically influences our perception of them.

Intraoperative Hyperlactatemia during Facial Gender Affirmation Surgery

Hyperlactatemia is defined as elevations in blood lactate &gt;2 mmol above baseline without concurrent metabolic acidosis [1]. Prolonged hyperlactatemia can be an independent risk factor for worse outcomes as lactate is a byproduct of anaerobic metabolism and linked with tissue ischemia and/or organ dysfunction. In head and neck surgical patients, normalization of hyperlactatemia is crucial to decrease mortality and postoperative complications [2]. However, even in critically-ill surgical patients, hyperlactatemia is not necessarily indicative of circulatory failure [3]. Our center has anecdotally noted hyperlactatemia in patients undergoing Facial Gender-Affirmation Surgery (FGAS), but it remains unclear whether it corresponds directly to adverse clinical outcomes. The present study sought to examine implications of intraoperative hyperlactatemia during FGAS.

Attention modulates facial expression processing in subsyndromal depression: A behavioral and ERP study

Impaired facial expression perception is a core element in depression, but the underlying mechanism remains controversial. This event-related potential study investigated how attention modulates facial expression perception in depression using a nonclinical sample. A group of healthy controls (HC, N = 39) and a group of individuals with subsyndromal depression (SD, N = 39) categorized faces based on either facial expression (happy vs. sad) or gender (male vs. female). Behaviorally, the SD group was less sensitive to the emotional valence of facial expression than the HC group when their attention was directed to facial expression, as revealed by comparable subjective ratings and accuracy rates in response to facial expressions. When attention was directed towards facial gender, the SD group versus the HC group showed a negative bias, as revealed by a faster N170 for sad faces than happy faces. Together, our findings suggest that attention plays a role in understanding the relationship between depression and facial expression perception.

The cross-race effect is mitigated by own-gender bias but not minimal groups or university affiliation

ABSTRACT Two experiments tested whether the cross-race effect (CRE) was mitigated more effectively by the own-gender effect (OGE) than minimal group manipulations. In experiment one, White participants were randomly assigned to one of two colour teams. They studied 16 faces (divided as follows: Black female, White female, Black male, and White male) half which were visually identified as team members. Face gender, via the OGE, but not colour teams mitigated the CRE in female participants such that White male faces were more accurately recognized than Black male faces, while White and Black female faces were recognized equally well. Experiment two replicated experiment one and tested whether university affiliation was a promising CRE mitigator. Again, only face gender mitigated the CRE in female participants. These results suggest that at least in White female participants the CRE may be more effectively mitigated by the OGE compared to commonly used minimal group manipulations.

SP52. Facial Gender Affirmation Surgery May Have Both Osseous And Soft Tissue Changes Predicted With Virtual Surgical Planning And Deep Surface Artificial Intelligence Morphing

SP52. Facial Gender Affirmation Surgery May Have Both Osseous And Soft Tissue Changes Predicted With Virtual Surgical Planning And Deep Surface Artificial Intelligence Morphing

Challenges faced by female lecturers and students in tourism departments and suggested remedies

PurposeThis study explores the various obstacles that female instructors and students confront in tourism education.Design/methodology/approachUtilizing qualitative research approaches and a thorough literature assessment, this study investigates women’s complex challenges in the academic and educational domains. The study examines the particular difficulties faced by female professors, such as work-life balance concerns, gender bias and limited opportunities for career advancement. Furthermore, the study also analyses the challenges that female students confront, including the threat of stereotypes, sexual harassment during internships and restricted access to networking and mentorship possibilities.FindingsFindings illustrate that both female tourism academics and students face gender discrimination in academia and in the sector.Practical implicationsThe findings may contribute valuable insights for policymakers, educators and stakeholders, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions and inclusive policies to create supportive environments for female lecturers and students in these departments.Originality/valueThis is the first study done in North Cyprus, which specifically analyzes gender inequality in tourism education. It is valuable as it emphasizes the significance of advancing gender equality in tourism and hospitality education.

Surgical techniques and outcomes of thyroid chondroplasty in transfeminine individuals: A systematic review

Thyroid chondroplasty (TC) in facial gender affirming surgery (FGAS) is aimed at modifying the thyroid cartilage to achieve a more feminine laryngeal appearance. This study evaluated open versus endoscopic techniques to thyroid chondroplasty and associated outcomes and complications. A systematic review (SR) according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for articles pertaining to TC was conducted. Data from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) was reviewed for individuals who underwent “cervical tracheoplasty” for gender dysphoria. In the SR, 12 articles representing 368 patients were included for analysis. Nine articles described open approaches and three articles described endoscopic techniques. Rate of total complications was found to be 4.3% (n=12) in the open approach compared to 15% (n=13) in the endoscopic approach. Reports of positive aesthetic results was 92% for the open approach and 90% for the endoscopic approach. In the open approach, seven (2.5%) patients requested additional removal of cartilage and three (1.1%) requested scar revision. In the endoscopic approach, three (3.7%) patients requested additional cartilage removal in the endoscopic approach. NSQIP database found no incidence of wound or major complications among patients who underwent tracheoplasty alone. While the advantage of the endoscopic approach is a scarless neck incision, the rate of complications for endoscopic thyroid chondroplasty is higher than the open approach. Endoscopic approaches are still not widely used and continued investigations are warranted to improve familiarity of this approach and reduce postoperative complications.

Limited health insurance coverage of injectable neurotoxins and fillers for gender affirmation: a cross-sectional study of Affordable Care Act silver and Medicaid plans.

Injectable neurotoxins and fillers are potential options for facial gender affirmation for transgender/nonbinary patients. However, the largest barrier to access is cost/insurance coverage. The purpose of this article is to assess the extent to which Affordable Care Act (ACA) silver plans and Medicaid policies cover gender-affirming injectable neurotoxin and filler procedures. A cross-sectional study of all ACA silver plans and Medicaid policies was performed from June 22 to August 15, 2021. Plan-specific certificates of coverage, clinical policies of insurance providers, and Medicaid documents were evaluated. A total of 915 plans were reviewed (864 ACA silver plans and all 51 Medicaid policies). None potentially covered neurotoxins. Only 72 (71 ACA and 1 Medicaid) potentially covered fillers, specifically collagen injections and lipofilling. Coverage required demonstration of medical necessity or significant variation of physical appearance from the patient's experienced gender. However, of the 71 ACA plans, 69 outlined cosmetic exclusions, possibly nullifying this coverage. Data were sourced from publicly available online information in 2021. Additionally, we were unable to confirm explicit coverage of these procedures with insurance companies. The majority of ACA silver and Medicaid plans did not cover gender-affirming neurotoxin or filler procedures, limiting access to this gender-affirming care.