The Impact of COVID-19 on Gender Representation in Academic Dermatology Publications

    April 2021 in “ Journal of Investigative Dermatology ”
    Matthew Szeto, Melissa Laughter, Mayra B.C. Maymone, Torunn Sivesind, Colby L. Presley, Steven M. Lada, Kayd J Pulsipher, R. Dellavalle
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    TLDR Female authorship in dermatology publications increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but women are still underrepresented in senior roles.
    The study analyzed gender representation in academic dermatology publications before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, using Genderize.io to predict authors' gender from their first names in five top dermatology journals. Results showed an increase in female authorship from 44% in 2018 to 46% in 2020, including rises in female first authors and female senior authors. This growth may be attributed to more research time due to reduced patient care and increased telemedicine during the pandemic. However, the proportion of female senior authors remains lower than that of female first authors, highlighting persistent gender disparities in senior academic roles. The study's limitations include its focus on only five journals and the inclusion of some pre-pandemic 2020 publications, suggesting the need for further investigation.
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