An alarm had been sounded earlier already: the corona lockdown disproportionately affects the careers of women scientists. A new study by science publisher Elsevier seems to confirm this. The more than two thousand scientific journals published by Elsevier received 58 percent more articles this year during the period from February up and until May, than during the same period in the two previous years. The number of articles in the fields of health and medical science even increased with as much as 92 percent.

Women contributed significantly fewer articles than men in the scientific fields of health & medical science, nature & technology and social sciences & economy. But there were differences within the group of women as well: experienced scientists suffered more from the lockdown than PhD candidates and young scientists starting their careers, who often have fewer children and care responsibilities.

TU/e

TU/e’s Chief Diversity Officer Evangelia Demerouti acknowledges that women carry out more care responsibilities than men, but also questions Elsevier’s research. “I would like to know what the situation is with regard to the percentage of rejections per gender. Women are less likely to have their manuscripts accepted than men.” She also wonders how the researchers measured productivity. “Apart from publishing, we also need to apply for project funds, support colleagues and trainees in their research work, teach, review papers, etcetera.”

Inequality

The authors believe there is a risk that inequality between men and women may further increase. Because the number of publications and citations still plays a key role in the careers of scientists. Demerouti: “Counting the number of publications is still a quick way to check - just one aspect of - productivity. However, it’s not a comprehensive indicator.”

The authors call on research financers and selection committees to give less weight to the numbers of articles published during the pandemic. This is in line with the vision for a more balanced recognition and rewards system for scientists.

Demerouti agrees that the number of publications shouldn’t count for women during the pandemic. “Incidentally, I know that men with young children also suffer from the fact that they publish fewer articles in these times of corona.”