Progress and challenges in narrowing the gender publication gap and parity
Authors: Aguinis Herman , Joo Harry , Ronda-Pupo Guillermo Armando , Ji Young Hun 
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the narrowing of the gender publication gap (GPG) and predict when gender publication parity will be achieved. It investigates if women’s publication rates are catching up with men’s when the proportion of published articles by women will match their representation in the field, and how the gender gap and parity are changing concerning lead authorships. The study analyzes data from 11,097 researchers across 8 management journals from 2002 to 2020, revealing a higher growth rate in women’s publications and varying degrees of parity achievement between micro and macro domains.

Design/methodology/approach

We created a database of all researchers who published at least one article in eight management journals from January 2002 through December 2020. It included 11,097 unique researchers who produced 7,357 unique articles, resulting in 21,361 authorships. We used data from the Web of Science to identify articles and their authors, filtering for “articles” and “reviews” only. We used allometric modeling and time series analysis to examine the GPG and forecast gender publication parity.

Findings

We found that the GPG is narrowing, with women’s publication rates growing faster than men’s. Parity in lead authorships has already been achieved or is within reach for many journals, especially in micro domains. However, macro-oriented journals show slower progress, with some not expected to reach parity until 2045 or later. These improvements are linked to increased representation of women in leadership positions and targeted mentoring programs in micro domains.

Research limitations/implications

While our study focused on publications, it did not account for citations, which could provide a more comprehensive view of research impact. Future research should explore other journals and different time windows and include citation analysis to understand the GPG and parity further.

Practical implications

The narrowing GPG is a positive development for organization studies, particularly in micro domains. This progress can mitigate stereotypes about women’s abilities, promote equity in hiring and promotion by considering authorship order and highlight the importance of targeted mentoring programs to reduce barriers for women. Additionally, business schools should identify and address performance situational constraints that disproportionately affect women, using techniques like the critical incidents approach to design effective interventions.

Social implications

The study’s societal implications include fostering greater gender equity in academic publishing, which can influence broader social norms and reduce gender stereotypes in academia. Achieving gender parity in publications can lead to more equitable hiring, promotion and recognition practices. Additionally, it highlights the importance of removing performance situational constraints and biases that hinder women’s academic progress, thus promoting a more inclusive and fair academic environment. These changes can inspire other fields to implement similar measures, contributing to societal progress toward gender equality.

Originality/value

The study’s originality/value lies in its longitudinal approach to analyzing the GPG in organization studies, contrasting with prior cross-sectional studies. It provides new insights by predicting when gender parity will be achieved in various journals, showing faster progress in micro domains compared to macro domains. Additionally, the study introduces methodological innovations such as allometric modeling and scenario-based analyses, highlighting the importance of reducing situational constraints for women in academia. These findings offer a nuanced understanding of the ongoing efforts and challenges in achieving gender equity in academic publishing.