Abstract
Purpose :
To examine the changes in the representation of women among first authors, senior authors, and editorial boards (EBs) in three ophthalmology journals from 2012-2021.
Methods :
The prevalence of females as first authors, senior authors, and EB members was examined. Gender-API (an accurate-validated-interface) assigned binary genders to authors based on their first name and location. Genders with less than 90% accuracy were determined by exhaustive internet hand search. EB information was manually extracted and grouped for comparison among leadership positions: editor-in-chief, mid-level editors, and consulting editors. The Cochran-Armitage test was used to evaluate the linear trend in gender authorship over time. Logistic regression determined the probability of first and senior authorship gender. Pearson correlations were computed to determine the association between female authorship and female EB membership.
Results :
Females published fewer articles as first (1547/4267) and senior authors (1165/4267) than males over the last decade. The proportion of females in senior authorship significantly increased from 2012 to 2021 (23.4% to 30.5%, P = 0.0046). JAMAOphthalmology and Ophthalmology had significant linear increases in female senior authorship proportions (P=0.0010, P=0.0093, respectively). The odds of female first authorships were 1.89 (95% CI: 1.65, 2.17) times higher for articles with female senior authors than male senior authors (P<0.0001). Across EBs, a significant increase in female members (13.9% to 34.6%, P=0.0006) was observed. JAMA Ophthalmology and Ophthalmology had a significant increase among all EB positions (P=0.0206, P=0.0046, respectively). We also found a significant correlation (P<0.0001) between female EB members and female authors (r = 0.74, 95% CI 0.51–0.87) for all journals.
Conclusions :
Female senior authorship has increased significantly over the last decade. Journals with a higher representation of female EB members also had a higher representation of female authorship. Although we found a positive association between first and senior female authorship, the gender gap persists, and equalizing representation is necessary.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.