Assessing the Scientific Quota of Academic Women in Social Sciences (With an Emphasis on Membership in Academic Departments and Scientific Research Journals)

Recently, gender differences in scientific production has increasingly been focused on by science sociologists. Awareness of scientific priorities, technology and human resources based on gender is one of the determining factors for science policy making and the success of plans. The present study aimed to examine the status and quota of women in academic departments and social science research journals. Quantitative method and secondary analysis were used in this study. To this end, from the archive of 18 journals from 2009 to 2013, 89 journals were selected for analysis i.e. one journal was randomly selected from each year. The results showed that, from among the examined journals, 22% of women (4 journals) were directors, and 28% (8 journals) were chief editors. Out of a total of 224 members of editorial board women comprised 21% i.e. 47 women members. Out of a total of 685 articles published in the selected journals 19% of women were first authors and 23% were second authors. 4% of the articles were single-authored and 6.7% were co-authored by women. In other words, the number of articles written by women only (whether single-authored or co-authored) included almost 11% of the articles (i.e. 75 articles). In general, women had a decisive role in the production of knowledge and ideas i.e. equivalent to 42% of the articles published despite their little presence in the areas mentioned above. The results indicate gender inequality in academic departments and social science research journals and inadequate policy-making within the science institution in this area.