1. Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes.
- Author
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Sandrucci, Anna, Bailoni, Lucia, and Crepaldi, Paola
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Gender equality is a goal (Goal 5) of the United Nations Development Programme, yet challenges persist in academia, especially in fields like animal science. This study focuses on gender issues within the Italian Animal Science and Production Association (ASPA), which includes both academic and non-academic researchers involved in animal sciences. Using 2023 data from ASPA and bibliometric information from Scopus and Web of Science, the research highlights a slow but ongoing reduction in the gender gap. However, vertical segregation remains a major issue, with few women holding top positions like full professors. There is also horizontal segregation, as fewer women work in animal science areas closely related to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, such as Animal breeding and genetics. At the bibliometric level, men generally perform better in research metrics like publication and citation counts. However, these differences become less significant when considering academic position, scientific sector, and age. Women are still under-represented in prestigious authorship. This paper focuses on gender issues within the Italian Animal Science and Production Association (ASPA), which includes both academic and non-academic researchers involved in animal sciences. Data from the association's archives in 2023 and bibliometric data obtained from Scopus and Web of Science were used. This study highlighted how within the ASPA and in that part of the academic realm falling within the field of animal science, a noticeable gender gap still exists, albeit decreasing over time at a very slow pace. There is clear vertical segregation, with a minority of women occupying full professor positions, and horizontal segregation with a low percentage of women involved in animal science disciplines closer to STEM fields, such as "Animal breeding and genetics". At the bibliometric level, gender differences in bibliometric indicators are observed, favouring men, although these differences are not significant when considering the academic position, scientific sector, and age. In the official journal of the ASPA (Italian Journal of Animal Science), women are under-represented in prestigious positions such as first, last, and corresponding authors. Scientific societies, academic institutions, and research organizations are called upon to do their part to accelerate the process of overcoming these inequalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2025
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