Women In Research Research Articles

Gender-Based Homophily in International Research Collaborations

Women researchers in postdoc career stages still do not participate to the same extent in international academic mobility as men do. As a novel approach to better understand gender inequalities in international academic mobility, we investigate the structure of research collaborations and bring into focus the host researchers. Our central theoretical tool is the distinction between compositional and behavioral homophily. Using quantitative data from two German Humboldt Foundation programs sponsoring collaborations between international researchers and academic hosts in Germany, we ask (a) to what extent are gender-homophilous research collaborations caused by compositional or behavioral homophily; (b) what factors influence gender-based homophily; and (c) whether men or women tend more towards gender-homophilous collaborations. We detected behavioral homophily in research collaborations mainly when taking the potential pool of eligible women researchers as the reference group. The results on influencing factors are ambiguous and need further investigation. Furthermore, our results show that men tended more towards gender-homophilous collaborations than women. Our results suggest that gender inequalities in international academic mobility are linked to behavioral homophily and that exploring the role of host researchers is crucial to understanding—and overcoming—the under-representation of women in international academic mobility.

International Survey on Topics for Research in Women’s Cardiovascular Health

International Survey on Topics for Research in Women’s Cardiovascular Health

Advocate-BREAST80+: A Comprehensive Patient and Advocate-Led Study to Enhance Breast Cancer Care Delivery and Patient-Centered Research in Women Aged ≥80 Years.

There are limited evidence-based data to guide treatment recommendations for breast cancer (BC) patients ≥80 years (P80+). Identifying and addressing unmet needs are critical. Advocate-BREAST80+ compared the needs of P80+ vs. patients < 80 years (P80-). In 12/2021, a REDCap survey was electronically circulated to 6918 persons enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Breast Disease Registry. The survey asked about concerns and satisfaction with multiple aspects of BC care. Overall, 2437 participants responded (35% response rate); 202 (8.3%) were P80+. P80+ were less likely to undergo local regional and systemic therapies vs. P80- (p < 0.01). Notably, P80+ were significantly less satisfied with information about the short and long-term side effects of BC therapies and managing toxicities. P80+ were also less likely to have participated in a clinical trial (p < 0.001) or to want to do so in the future (p = 0.0001). Although P80+ experienced less anxiety and symptom-related distress compared with P80-, they were significantly less satisfied with information regarding the side effects of BC therapies and their management. P80+ were significantly less likely to have participated in a clinical trial or be open to considering this option. Future studies should address educational needs pertaining to side effects and barriers to research participation in P80+.

Women's rugby for all: Toward an intersectional women's rugby research agenda.

Women rugby players are participating in the sport at the highest levels to date. However, despite this increase in participation, sports sciences and sports medicine/sports physiotherapy (SEMS) research output has not mirrored this increase. Females have hormonally mediated anatomical and physiological profiles, which may have implications for rugby performance, injury risk and rehabilitation outcomes. However, hormonal fluctuations and the physiological differences between the sexes are not the only contributors to sex-related differences in the rugby experience. Rugby is a highly gendered environment, which operates within a hegemonic masculine norm and marginalises female and women athletes. Further, while women players in general are underrepresented in sports sciences and SEMS research, women rugby players and experts from ethnic minorities and the Global South are near invisible in the literature as they are marginalised on multiple fronts. Sports sciences and SEMS research should take an intersectional lens to investigate the joint relationship between the various sources of inequity in rugby. Intersectional research in women rugby players would encourage the conceptualisation and analysis of the complex social inequalities that the most marginalised women players and those who simultaneously negotiate multiple identities experience. Such data can better inform federation-level interventions and policy changes to address the needs of historically marginalised player populations as our research portfolio will be more representative of the world's rugby population.

Why I created the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis

Why I created the Rachel Horne Prize for Women's Research in Multiple Sclerosis

From global trends to local realities: understanding women's political involvement for Indonesia's democratic progress

The urgency of this research lies in the need to understand the trends, contributions, and dynamics of women's political participation globally. This article aims to map studies that focus on women's political participation. Research methods include bibliometric analysis with data sources from the Scopus database. The study's findings reflect significant growth in women's political participation research, especially in recent years, with distribution varying by country and research theme. The research findings also show that although there are themes that have received attention, there are still areas that need to be explored further, such as intersectionality, gender equality, gender, and the impact of social media that provide insight into the complexity of women's political participation issues. This study recommends the need for increased research and local understanding of the factors influencing women's political participation in Indonesia to strengthen women's role in politics by learning from other countries that have successfully implemented inclusive policies. In addition, by involving various parties, including the government, research institutions, and civil society, Indonesia can create an environment that supports, empowers, and encourages women's political participation optimally. The implications of these findings not only help shape academic discourse, but also lay the foundation for concrete efforts to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment in the wider political sphere.

Women researchers: being «mother-wives» and not dying trying.

Objetivo: Analizar la situación y condición de las mujeres mexicanas pertenecientes al Sistema Nacional de Investigadores (SNII), las coincidencias y limitaciones que implica el trabajo como investigadora con respecto a sus relaciones familiares y laborales. Metodología: Mixta que comprende, como base, la revisión del número de mujeres que se encuentran registradas en el SNII y entrevistas cualitativas con investigadoras, lo que permite el acercamiento fenomenológico a las realidades que viven en dobles y triples jornadas. Lo anterior a partir de las propuestas teóricas de Palomar y Lagarde. Resultados: la revisión de mujeres registradas en el SNII es menor que el de hombres, debido a diversos factores, entre los que se pueden mencionar: 1) el llamado «techo de cristal»; 2) la inconsistencia entre el deber ser «madreesposa» y las exigencias del trabajo de investigación de tiempo completo; 3) las políticas institucionales que aún no integran políticas de género que consideren la interseccionalidad.

Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development in India

Purpose: Working women are thriving and rising to prominence in the economy and business environment. Today's women make significant contributions to society's development. Theoretical framework: An empowered woman has more control over her life and her finances. Women's economic independence and self-sufficiency can be greatly aided by training them in the art of entrepreneurship. Growth in business entrepreneurship has the potential to improve women's financial, societal, personal, as well as political standing. Design/methodology/approach: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between female entrepreneurship and women's empowerment in the Chittoor district. Participants are 300 female entrepreneurs from both urban and rural areas. The researcher analyses the issues and difficulties women entrepreneurs experience in operating their enterprises, as well as the supportive elements for women business owners. Findings: Women's empowerment and female entrepreneurship are positively correlated. The majority of female business owners, whether in urban and rural areas, struggle with financial issues and job pressure. Governmental programmes and policies support female entrepreneurs by giving them training, funding, and marketing help. Research, Practical &amp; Social implications: The entrepreneur alters the conditions of supply, combines already-existing resources in novel ways, and therefore establishes another generation of employment. Originality/value: Women's conditions are improved by entrepreneurship, which also helps them become fully involved in the growth and development of their country. This is one of the first studies to provide a detailed account of the women's entrepreneurship research in Chittoor, India.

Backlash Against Women and Support for Men? On the Perception of Men and Women Researchers in Gender Stereotype-Inconsistent Domains

Even in academic fields dominated by women students (e.g., educational research), academic careers are characterized by vertical gender segregation in favor of men. This clashes with the public understanding of educational research as a women's domain that is more strongly associated with warmth (a stereotypically feminine trait) than competence (a stereotypically masculine trait), as revealed in our first study. We thus conducted an experimental vignette study of 189 adults from the general public to explore how women versus men researchers working in educational research versus physics (as a contrasting domain clearly dominated by men) were perceived on several dimensions of competence and warmth. Whereas the female researcher in physics was rated as more competent than the female researcher in educational research, the woman in physics was penalized for her gender stereotype-incongruent domain choice by being perceived as less warm. However, the male researcher in educational research was perceived as both warmer and more competent than his man counterpart in physics, and as smarter than the female researcher in educational research. These findings suggest rewards instead of penalties for men pursuing academic careers in initially women-dominated domains, likely contributing to the increasing gender gap in academic careers in these domains.

The experience of women researchers during the Covid-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic globally disrupted lives and contributed to the exacerbation of pre-existing inequalities. Women in research were also affected. The prominent role that women played in professional and personal care duties had a detrimental effect on their research outputs, potentially hindering their career progression. Moreover, the challenges faced by women academics during the pandemic, including job loss, increased mental health issues, and the intersection of gender with other socio-demographic traits exacerbated existing gender disparities within academia. By systematically scoping the qualitative literature on the experiences of women researchers during the pandemic, this study sought to explore how women experienced and reacted to the challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative meta synthesis of the included studies revealed three themes: gendered professional expectations, colliding identities and coping strategies. These themes show how gendered roles such as teaching and professional care work, associated with the hierarchical and gendered division of tasks both at home and in the workplace, made women feel unsupported and alienated as relevant agents in the academic context. The study reveals the importance of pastoral care, teaching and service work as the essential backbone of the academic infrastructure, especially in times of crises. It also exposes how productivity-focused researcher assessment criteria, rewarding mainly individual results and unrewarding of care and service work, can be viewed as perpetuating structural inequalities based on gender, parenting situations, contractual situations and background. In conclusion, this study exposes the need to proactively address the gendered practices and implicit biases which reproduce inequalities within academia and highlights how paying attention to the experiences and needs of women researchers is essential for improving the resilience and crises preparedness of academic the system.

GENDER PAY-GAP: UTILISING MULTIVARIATE APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES OF UNEQUAL PAY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA

Purpose: The gender pay gap in South Africa has greatly reduced since the implementation of the Employment Equity Act in 1998. However, there is still a pay gap that cannot be sufficiently explained and addressed by government leaders and scholars. Scholars, policymakers, the radical left, and feminists have carefully highlighted and addressed what is considered to be the major causes, such as segregation of women, women's stereotypes, marginalization of women, wage penalties due to time away from work, child nurturing responsibilities given to women, and inequality in salaries and remunerations. However, the World Bank reported that from 2007 on, the gender pay gap in South Africa was no longer showing any sign of reduction. It was stagnant and thereafter oscillating. As such the purpose of this research is to investigate the causes of the stagnation and the oscillation, and to provide recommendations. Theoretical Framework: This research used multivariate analysis theory to make further contributions on the causes of gender pay inequality in South Africa in order to address the stagnation and oscillation of the existing pay gap. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research method used is qualitative approach. The research design comprises men and women who are already in the work industry in both private and public sector. Findings: This research found that gender pay gap in South Africa is caused by women’s family-career crisis as a main contributor, followed by interests and personality traits, equality of opportunity and career selection. Research Implications: This research paper gives light to further research in Women’s family-career crisis as it seems to be the major contributor to gender pay gap in South Africa. The assessment of how impactful family-career crisis is on gender pay gap is also essential in order to understand the magnitude of it on gender pay gap in South Africa. Originality/Value: This research paper found significant causes of gender pay gap such as ‘family career-crisis’ that shows to heavily contribute to the gender pay in South Africa. This might further give clarity to the governments on the existence of gender pay gap. Moreover this research may help in redefining the government policies on the approach of gender pay gap.

The gender citation gap: Approaches, explanations, and implications

AbstractDo women face a disadvantage in terms of citation rates, and if so, in what ways? This article provides a comprehensive overview of existing research on the relationship between gender and citations. Three distinct approaches are identified: (1) per‐article approach that compares gender differences in citations between articles authored by men and women, (2) per‐author approach that compares the aggregate citation records of men and women scholars over a specified period or at the career level, and (3) reference‐ratio approach that assesses the gender distribution of references in articles written by men and women. I show that articles written by women receive comparable or even higher rates of citations than articles written by men. However, women tend to accumulate fewer citations over time and at the career level. Contrary to the notion that women are cited less per article due to gender‐based bias in research evaluation or citing behaviors, this study suggests that the primary reason for the lower citation rates at the author level is women publishing fewer articles over their careers. Understanding and addressing the gender citation gap at the author level should therefore focus on women's lower research productivity over time and the contributing factors. To conclude, I discuss the potential detrimental impact of lower citations on women's career progression and the ways to address the issue to mitigate gender inequalities in science.

No additional risk of congenital anomalies after first-trimester dydrogesterone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

No additional risk of congenital anomalies after first-trimester dydrogesterone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Women's collectives and social support: exploring pathways and impacts among forcibly displaced women.

During humanitarian crises, women face both heightened vulnerabilities and a disruption to their social networks. Previous research points to the positive impact of women's collectives in low-income settings, but less is known about the distinct forms, mechanisms, and consequences of the social support that emerges from these collectives, particularly for women affected by conflict. Recognizing the importance of social support in such contexts, this study utilizes the photovoice methodology to examine the dynamics of social support across women's collectives in three distinct settings. This study recruited forcibly displaced women participating in women's collectives in Indonesia (n = 5), Jordan (n = 12), and Uganda (n = 11). Photovoice, a participatory research method that centers the voices of study participants, was implemented across 7-8 sessions in each setting. Participants took photographs in response to four prompts and then discussed their pictures and lived experiences related to social support in facilitated discussion groups. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis and a mixed inductive and deductive approach. Across all study sites, participants highlighted the importance of five types of informal social support: emotional, instrumental, informational, companionship, and esteem support. Emotional support, one of the most prominently mentioned forms, served to buffer against stressors and enhance mental well-being. Instrumental and informational support facilitated meeting basic needs, accessing resources, and, in Uganda, improving members' physical safety. Companionship support fostered a sense of belonging and shared identity, while esteem support validated members' perspectives and aspirations and bolstered self-worth. In the Jordan collective, esteem support proved especially beneficial in countering the marginalization members experienced in their community. Findings underscore the critical role of women's collectives in providing diverse forms of social support to foster empowerment, agency, and resilience among forcibly displaced women. By centering the voices of participants and employing survivor-centered approaches like photovoice, this study amplifies the perspectives of women within these collectives, contributing to more inclusive and responsive humanitarian interventions. Future research should continue prioritizing women's experiences and research questions, ensuring that interventions address their needs effectively.

Opportunities and Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs for Sustainable Development in India

Purpose: Working women are thriving and rising to prominence in the economy and business environment. Today's women make significant contributions to society's development. Theoretical framework: An empowered woman has more control over her life and her finances. Women's economic independence and self-sufficiency can be greatly aided by training them in the art of entrepreneurship. Growth in business entrepreneurship has the potential to improve women's financial, societal, personal, as well as political standing. Design/methodology/approach: The current study aims to investigate the relationship between female entrepreneurship and women's empowerment in the Chittoor district. Participants are 300 female entrepreneurs from both urban and rural areas. The researcher analyses the issues and difficulties women entrepreneurs experience in operating their enterprises, as well as the supportive elements for women business owners. Findings: Women's empowerment and female entrepreneurship are positively correlated. The majority of female business owners, whether in urban and rural areas, struggle with financial issues and job pressure. Governmental programmes and policies support female entrepreneurs by giving them training, funding, and marketing help. Research, Practical &amp; Social implications: The entrepreneur alters the conditions of supply, combines already-existing resources in novel ways, and therefore establishes another generation of employment. Originality/value: Women's conditions are improved by entrepreneurship, which also helps them become fully involved in the growth and development of their country. This is one of the first studies to provide a detailed account of the women's entrepreneurship research in Chittoor, India.

Creating a Virtual Indigenist Community-Based Participatory Approach: Lessons Learned from Centering Urban Native Young Women in Research

Creating a Virtual Indigenist Community-Based Participatory Approach: Lessons Learned from Centering Urban Native Young Women in Research

Anti-oppression as praxis in the research field: Implementing emancipatory approaches for researchers and community partners.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and anti-oppression (AO) policies are implemented in research to address intersecting systemic barriers for marginalized populations. Grant applications now include questions about EDI to ensure researchers have considered how research designs perpetuate discriminatory practices. However, complying with these measures may not mean that researchers have engaged with AO as praxis. Three central points emerged from our work as a women's research collective committed to embedding AO practices within the research methodology of our community-based study. First, research ideas must be connected to larger pursuits of AO in and across marginalized communities. Secondly, AO as praxis in the research design is an exercise in centering cultural knowledge and pragmatic research preparation and response that honours the collective. Lastly, AO approaches are not prescriptive. They must shift, adapt, and change based on the research project and team, creating space for transformative resistance and emancipation of racialized researchers and community workers.

Women's career motivation: social barriers and enablers in Sudan.

This study presents an original contribution by examining an often-neglected country in the Middle East and Northeast Africa (MENA), with a specific focus on women's career research. It identifies challenges that have created barriers for Sudanese women's career progression, consequently limiting their opportunities for career and leadership growth. To conceptualize understand women's career motivations on a global and regional scale, the study conducted an in-depth review and analysis of literature, benchmarked similar countries, and incorporated psychological and organizational behavior theories, alongside examples of women's empowerment cases from the MENA region. The study employs a multifaceted approach that involves exploring psychological and organizational theories, drawing insights from self-efficacy, stereotype, and implicit bias theories, as well as MENA empowerment cases. Additionally, an empirical investigation is conducted through an extensive three-round Delphi study involving 75 Sudanese women leaders from diverse sectors. The empirical findings are crucial for understanding obstacles faced by women and the impact of Sudan's unique social context on their career paths. The research findings shed light on the complex interplay of factors creating roadblocks for Sudanese women's career advancement. Sudan's distinctive social context significantly shapes and influences women's career motivations in diverse and interconnected ways. Empirical evidence from the Delphi study underscores the broad impact of these roadblocks, highlighting the multiplicity of challenges faced by women in Sudan. This comprehensive analysis not only aids in comprehending workplace obstacles but also provides valuable insights into the diverse experiences and needs of female employees. The findings emphasize the broad impact of these barriers on women, underscoring their varied challenges. The research holds far-reaching implications. By contextually identifying barriers that impede Sudanese women's career motivations, the study lays a foundation for targeted solutions. This understanding is grounded in historical, theoretical, and policy-making perspectives, enabling informed strategies to support women's advancement. The study also offers actionable policy recommendations for governments, workplaces, and stakeholders, facilitating women's career growth through policy reforms and capacity-building initiatives. Furthermore, its significance extends beyond Sudan, acting as a catalyst for developing gender-responsive policies in similar MENA countries and beyond.

Microvascular Aging and Eicosanoids-Women's Evaluation of Systemic Aging Tenacity ("You are never too old to become younger!") Specialized Center of Research Excellence on Sex Differences Career Enhancement Core: Building the Future.

The objective of the National Institutes of Health Office of Research in Women's Health (NIH/ORWH) Specialized Center of Research and Career Enhancement (SCORE) program is to expedite the development and application of new knowledge that affect women, to learn more about the etiology of these diseases, and to foster improved approaches to treatment and/or prevention. Each SCORE has a Career Enhancement Core (CEC) that serves to meet the career enhancement needs of translational science in the study of sex differences. The Microvascular Aging and Eicosanoids-Women's Evaluation of Systemic aging Tenacity (MAE-WEST) ("You are never too old to become younger!") Specialized Center of Research Excellence (SCORE) on Sex Differences will study pro- and anti-inflammatory responses and small vessel aging traits. As part of our SCORE CEC, we have advanced several initiatives to embed consideration of sex as a biological variable (SABV) into the infrastructure of our two CEC institutions. Unlike other professions, ongoing physician education through continuing medical education (CME) activities is required and embedded in the practice of medicine. The MAE-WEST SCORE in collaboration with the CSMC Clinical Scholars Program, the Center for Research in Women's Health and Sex-differences and the CSMC CME Office requires SABV and as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion components in all CSMC CME programs. Clinical practice is also increasingly guided by evidence-based guidelines, with Class I recommendations resulting from clinical trials rather than expert consensus. It is essential that women be included in clinical trials proportionate to the prevalence and burden of disease. The MAE-WEST SCORE has developed our own unique CEC for providing novel educational, networking, funding opportunities, and translation to practice support. The developed best practices have found novel ways to enhance studies of women's health and SABV. We welcome visitors on-site and virtual to share with the broader academic and practicing community.

The role of sex and gender in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer: the 6th ICAPEM Annual Symposium.

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer in women are rising, with both increasing by 124% between 2003 and 2019. The main risk factor for lung cancer is tobacco use, but indoor radon gas exposure is one of the leading causes in nonsmokers. The most recent evidence demonstrates that multiple factors can make women more susceptible to harm from these risk factors or carcinogens. For this consensus statement, the Association for Lung Cancer Research in Women (ICAPEM) invited a group of lung cancer experts to perform a detailed gender-based analysis of lung cancer. Clinically, female patients have different lung cancer profiles, and most actionable driver alterations are more prevalent in women, particularly in never-smokers. Additionally, the impact of certain therapies seems to be different. In the future, it will be necessary to carry out specific studies to improve the understanding of the role of certain biomarkers and gender in the prognosis and evolution of lung cancer.