Is there an editorial glass ceiling? Editorial leadership in nephrology and transplantation journals: A gender‐based cross‐sectional analysis

• Published in: Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.) Vic.), 2024-12, Vol.29 (12), p.895-900
• Main Authors: Scarlato, Rose‐Marie, Wyburn, Kate, Wyld, Melanie L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical Nephrology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Editorial Policies; Female; Gender; Gender Equity; Humans; Leadership; Male; Nephrology; Nephrology - statistics & numerical data; Nephrology - trends; Original; Periodicals as Topic - statistics & numerical data; Physicians, Women - statistics & numerical data; Physicians, Women - trends; Population studies; Sex differences; Sex Factors; Sexism - statistics & numerical data; Statistical analysis; Transplantation
• ISSN: 1320-5358; 1440-1797; 1440-1797
• DOI: 10.1111/nep.14383

Aim Editors‐in‐Chief (EiC) play a key role as gatekeepers in academic medicine, often shaping research agendas. Women have historically been underrepresented in editorial leadership roles in academic medicine. The purpose of this study was to examine gender representation among EiC of contemporary transplantation and nephrology journals. Methods This cross‐sectional study evaluated gender disparities among EiC of transplantation and nephrology medical journals. The study population was drawn from journals in two subject categories (1) ‘Transplantation’ and (2) ‘Urology and Nephrology’ in the 2023 Journal Citation Reports. Binary gender classification (woman/man) was determined by the names/pronouns used to describe the EiC on the journal or institutional webpage. The primary outcome was the proportion of women EiC. Secondary outcome was the proportion of women EiC based on journal topic, location and metrics. Descriptive statistics were used. Gender differences were compared using students t‐test or Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 79 EiC were identified of which 16 (20%) were women and 63 (80%) were men (p