Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes

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 w...

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Main Authors: Anna Sandrucci, Lucia Bailoni, Paola Crepaldi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Animals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/390
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author Anna Sandrucci
Lucia Bailoni
Paola Crepaldi
author_facet Anna Sandrucci
Lucia Bailoni
Paola Crepaldi
author_sort Anna Sandrucci
collection DOAJ
description 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 (<i>Italian Journal of Animal Science</i>), 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.
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spelling doaj-art-5ab36b930e894904a130c732d329bfe02025-08-20T02:12:38ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-01-0115339010.3390/ani15030390Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research OutcomesAnna Sandrucci0Lucia Bailoni1Paola Crepaldi2Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences- Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, ItalyDepartment of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences- Production, Landscape, Agroenergy, University of Milan, 20133 Milano, ItalyThis 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 (<i>Italian Journal of Animal Science</i>), 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/390academic careersauthorshipbibliometricsgender gapsegregation
spellingShingle Anna Sandrucci
Lucia Bailoni
Paola Crepaldi
Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
Animals
academic careers
authorship
bibliometrics
gender gap
segregation
title Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
title_full Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
title_fullStr Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
title_full_unstemmed Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
title_short Assessing Gender Equality in Italian Animal Science: A Case Study on Academic Careers and Research Outcomes
title_sort assessing gender equality in italian animal science a case study on academic careers and research outcomes
topic academic careers
authorship
bibliometrics
gender gap
segregation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/390
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AT luciabailoni assessinggenderequalityinitaliananimalscienceacasestudyonacademiccareersandresearchoutcomes
AT paolacrepaldi assessinggenderequalityinitaliananimalscienceacasestudyonacademiccareersandresearchoutcomes