Analysis of gender equality in the editorial practices in Spain

Abstract

Scientific journals play a key role in the dissemination of research as the main channel for its transmission and, therefore, should contribute to the promotion of gender equity through their editorial policies and publication processes. This study analyzes various indicators with respect to editorial policies such as the use of inclusive language, the inclusion of the full name in the authorship and gender in the source data. It also includes indicators related to the visibility of women in the publication process, such as their presence on editorial committees, in editorial management tasks and in manuscript review processes. The study covers 301 quality Spanish scientific journals. The results are analyzed according to the thematic areas of the journals and their publishers. This analysis represents a new milestone in this field as it raises awareness and disseminates standards in scientific publishing to eliminate gender barriers.