Claiming Novelty,Claiming Authority: Gender Gaps in Scientific Impact across Disciplines

Abstract

How does gender shape who can successfully claim authority in science, and how does this vary across disciplines? Drawing upon theories of doing gender and feminist epistemologies, I examine a key mechanism through which scientific authority is established: novelty claims, defined as rhetorical statements that frame research as novel, distinct from actual novelty. These claims operate as gendered professional practices linking gender to scientific impact. Through analysis of 106,125 papers from SciSciNet and Microsoft Academic Graph databases, I find that novelty claims mediate gender gaps in citations differently across disciplines. In STEM fields, women first and last authors make fewer novelty claims than men, and this is associated with fewer citations. In humanities and social sciences, novelty claims remain positively associated with citations, but there are no gender differences in their use or in citations. These patterns persist after controlling for women’s representation in each field, indicating that gender hierarchy gets reproduced through deeper epistemic power relations rather than demographic imbalance.

Plain Language Summary

Gender Gaps in How Scientists Present Their Research as “New” and How This Affects How often Their Work Gets Cited

Scientists often need to establish their authority by highlighting how their research adds new insights to their field. This study analyzed 106,125 research papers to understand if men and women scientists differ in how they present their work as novel contributions, and whether this affects how much other scientists cite their work. The study found striking differences between academic fields: In science, math, and engineering (STEM), (1) women scientists (first or last authors) are less likely to use language that emphasizes how their work is new and groundbreaking. (2) This leads to their work getting cited less by other scientists. In humanities and social sciences, (1) men and women scientists claim their work is novel equally often. (2) Their work gets cited at similar rates. These patterns are not simply because there are fewer women in some fields. Instead, different academic subjects have different cultures that can make it harder or easier for women to promote their achievements. This matters because it shows that having more women in science is not enough to ensure equality. We also need to examine how different academic cultures might make it harder for women to speak confidently about their achievements and get recognition for their work.