Balancing the Byline: Exploring Gender and Authorship Patterns in Canadian Science Publishing Journals

Eden J. Hennessey; Amanda Desnoyers; Margaret Christ; Adrianna Tassone; Skye Hennessey; Bianca Dreyer; Alex Jay; Patricia Sanchez; Shohini Ghose

arXiv · 2512.10268

Balancing the Byline: Exploring Gender and Authorship Patterns in Canadian Science Publishing Journals

Eden J. Hennessey·Amanda Desnoyers·Margaret Christ·Adrianna Tassone·Skye Hennessey·Bianca Dreyer·Alex Jay·Patricia Sanchez·Shohini Ghose

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Abstract

Canada is internationally recognized for its leadership in science and its commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields. Despite this leadership, limited research has examined gender disparities in scientific publishing within the Canadian context. This study analyzes over 67,000 articles published in 24 Canadian Science Publishing (CSP) journals between 2010 and 2021 to better understand patterns of gender representation. Findings show that women accounted for less than one-third of published authors across CSP journals. Representation varied by discipline, with higher proportions of women in biomedical sciences and lower proportions of women in engineering - trends that mirror broader national and global patterns. Notably, the proportion of women submitting manuscripts closely matched those published, suggesting that broader workforce disparities may play a larger role than publication bias. Women were less likely to be solo authors or to hold prominent authorship positions, such as first or last author - roles typically associated with research leadership and career advancement. These findings point to the need for a two-fold response: continued efforts to address systemic barriers to women's participation in science, and a review of publishing practices to ensure equitable access, recognition, and inclusion for all researchers.

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Eden J. Hennessey, Amanda Desnoyers, Margaret Christ, Adrianna Tassone, Skye Hennessey, Bianca Dreyer, Alex Jay, Patricia Sanchez, Shohini Ghose. 2025-12-11. Balancing the Byline: Exploring Gender and Authorship Patterns in Canadian Science Publishing Journals. https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.10268

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