Source: PLOS One
A study analyzing 2,881 papers published in the journal Veterinary Surgery between 2002 and 2023 to explores gender representation among authors. Using name-based gender inference and logistic regression models, the authors examined how publication year, author order, and surgical emphasis relate to the likelihood of an author being female. Overall, only 36% of authors were women, with women representing 43% of first authors, 37% of second authors, and 28% of last (often senior) authors.
Female first authorship has risen over time, but women remain markedly underrepresented as last authors and in small animal orthopedics, a field stereotyped as masculine. The patterns contrast with the wider Veterinary workforce, where women are the majority, and only partially mirror specialist college demographics. The authors argue that structural and cultural barriers, including mentorship, stereotypes, and inflexible training, likely contribute and call for systemic reforms, better reporting, and targeted initiatives to promote gender equity.
Read the full story HERE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0330392