Covid-19 and the gender gap in research productivity

Understanding the Effect of Having Primary Responsibility for the Care of Children

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4097484
AutoresDavid Peetz (0000-0003-3722-3163, Griffith University), Alison Preston (0000-0002-8326-8197, UWA Business School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, autor correspondente), Scott Walsworth (0000-0001-6540-8531, University of Saskatchewan), Johanna Weststar (0000-0002-6144-3695, DAN Department of Management and Organizational Studies, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada)
Ano2023
Volume48
Fascículo9
Páginas1428-1439
Data de publicação2023-09-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoStudies in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0307-5079 • E-ISSN: 1470-174X
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/03075079.2023.2201589
OpenAlexW4366389489
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas10
Referências citadas34

In this paper we contribute to the emerging literature on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender gap in research productivity. We extend previous studies by considering men and women academics from science and non-science disciplines through an analysis of data from academics at 14 universities across two countries (seven in Australia and seven in Canada) and focusing on the role of primary caregiving. Our empirical approach used logistic regressions and the Blinder–Oaxaca decomposition technique. The latter enabled us to ask: ‘How much of the gender gap in perceived productivity during the pandemic is due to gender differences in primary care responsibilities?’ Within the sample (N = 2,817) of academics, 33% of women and 25% of men reported that their perceived publication ability decreased a lot during the pandemic. This is an eight percentage-point gender gap in perceived publication ability. Statistical analysis revealed that two-fifths (40%) of this gap may be explained by gender differences in having primary responsibility for the care of children. Gender differences in other characteristics such as age, discipline, and increased teaching and administrative work were not, as a group, significant. There were also no differences between Australia and Canada. The findings are important, particularly for the pursuit of gender equality within academia. In the absence of specific mitigating interventions, research disruptions in 2020 may have long-lasting career scarring effects (e.g. hiring, promotion, tenure) and, as a result, see women further disadvantaged within the academy

Demographic economics · Disadvantaged · Economic growth · Economics · Gender gap · Higher education · Pandemic · Political science · Productivity · Psychological intervention · Diversity and Career in Medicine · Gender Diversity and Inequality · Medicine · Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges