Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Background: Historically, medical studies have excluded female participants and research data have been collected from males and generalized to females.
The gender gap in medical research, alongside overarching misogyny, results in real-life disadvantages for female patients. This systematic scoping review of the literature aims to determine the extent of research into the medical research sex and gender gap and to assess the extent of misogyny, if any, in modern medical research.
Articles published between January 01, , and December 31, , were included. An article was deemed to display misogyny if it discussed the female aesthetic in terms of health, but did not measure health or could not be utilized to improve clinical practice. Results: Of the 17 included articles, 12 examined the gender gap in medical research and 5 demonstrated misogyny, assessing female attractiveness for alleged medical reasons.
Females remain broadly under-represented in the medical literature, sex and gender are poorly reported and inadequately analyzed in research, and misogynistic perceptions continue to permeate the narrative. Conclusion: The gender gap and misogynistic studies remain present in the contemporary medical literature.
Reasons and implications for practice are discussed. Amid calls for Australian research policy to align with those in Europe and United States and increase equality in sex and gender recruitment in medical research, 1 the sex and gender gap in medical practice is drawing increasing media attention.
