Gender Disparity in Editorial Leadership: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Global Infectious Disease Journals

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 211 - 220, 31.10.2025

Mustafa Uğuz , Berfin Çirkin Doruk

https://doi.org/10.55517/mrr.1610090

Abstract

Aim: The representation of women in major medical journals, particularly those publishing in the field of infectious diseases, is important for evaluating gender equity in academia. This study examined the gender distribution of editorial boards in international medical journals, with a specific focus on infectious disease journals. Methods: Medical journals were identified using the SCImago Journal & Country Rank database. A total of 262 journals and 12,142 editorial board members were analyzed. Gender data were collected through official journal websites and institutional profiles. Results: Among all editorial board members, 3,575 (29.4%) were identified as women. Only 45 (17.2%) women held editor-in-chief positions. In infectious disease journals, the proportion of female editors was 30.8% (n=1,525), which was similar to other specialties (p=0.230). Across all fields, male editors outnumbered female editors. Conclusion: This large-scale study demonstrates a clear male predominance in editorial leadership of high-impact medical journals, particularly in the field of infectious diseases. Although female representation was higher in certain specialties, women did not constitute the majority in any field. Efforts to promote gender equity in academic leadership remain essential.

Keywords

editorial board , Gender representation , Infectious diseases

Ethical Statement

This study did not require ethical approval as it involved publicly available data and did not include human or animal subjects.

Supporting Institution

The authors declare that no funding or financial support was received for this study.

Editoryal Liderlikte Cinsiyet Eşitsizliği: Küresel Enfeksiyon Hastalıkları Dergilerine Yönelik Kesitsel Bir Analiz

Abstract

Amaç: Kadınların özellikle enfeksiyon hastalıkları alanında yayın yapan büyük ölçekli tıp dergilerindeki temsili, akademide cinsiyet eşitliğinin değerlendirilmesi açısından önemlidir. Bu çalışmada, uluslararası tıp dergilerinin editöryal kurullarındaki cinsiyet dağılımı, enfeksiyon hastalıkları dergilerine odaklanarak incelenmiştir. Yöntem: Tıp dergileri, SCImago Journal& Country Rank veritabanı kullanılarak belirlenmiştir. Toplamda 262 dergi ve 12.142 editör kurulu üyesi analiz edilmiştir. Cinsiyet verileri, dergilerin web siteleri ve kurumsal profilleri aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. Bulgular: Tüm editöryal kurul üyeleri arasında 3.575’inin (%29,4) kadın olduğu saptanmıştır. Editör-in-chief (baş editör) pozisyonunda sadece 45 (%17,2) kadının bulunduğu görülmüştür. Enfeksiyon hastalıkları dergilerinde görev yapan 1.525 editör arasında kadın oranı %30,8 olup, diğer uzmanlık alanlarıyla benzerdi (p=0.230). Tüm alanlarda erkek editör sayısı kadınlardan fazlaydı. Sonuç: Bu geniş ölçekli çalışma, yüksek etki faktörlü tıp dergilerinde, özellikle enfeksiyon hastalıkları dergilerinde, editöryal liderlikte belirgin bir erkek egemenliğini ortaya koymaktadır. Bazı uzmanlık alanlarında kadın temsili daha yüksek olsa da hiçbir alanda kadınlar çoğunlukta değildir. Akademik liderlikte cinsiyet eşitliğini teşvik etmeye yönelik çabalar önemini korumaktadır.

Keywords

Editör kurulu , Cinsiyet temsili , Enfeksiyon hastalıkları

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