COVID-19 gender policy changes support female scientists and improve research quality
Publication type
journal article
Publication date
2021
Author(s)
Witteman, H.O.
Haverfield, J.
Tannenbaum, C.
Language
English
Discipline(s)
Geographical area
Abstract
With more time being spent on caregiving responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, female scientists' productivity dropped. When female scientists conduct research, identity factors are better incorporated in research content. In order to mitigate damage to the research enterprise, funding agencies can play a role by putting in place gender equity policies that support all applicants and ensure research quality. A national health research funder implemented gender policy changes that included extending deadlines and factoring sex and gender into COVID-19 grant requirements. Following these changes, the funder received more applications from female scientists, awarded a greater proportion of grants to female compared to male scientists, and received and funded more grant applications that considered sex and gender in the content of COVID-19 research. Further work is urgently required to address inequities associated with identity characteristics beyond gender. © 2021 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
ISSN
0027-8424
Volume
118
Issue
6