How academic networks lock women out of success

The networking patterns of women scientists at elite institutions could play a role in gender disparity at the highest levels of academia. A massive study, “The Tilted Playing Field for Women in Science,” analyzed nearly 5 million scientific papers, finding that women’s networks are more locally clustered and focused on their own institutions, while men collaborate more broadly. Researchers say this could contribute to women receiving less recognition and funding for their work. “Collaboration networks are shaped not only by individual choices but also by the opportunities that structure professional interactions,” the report notes. “Early access to mentorship, visibility, and brokerage positions connecting otherwise distant parts of the network plays a critical role in long-term success. If women are systematically underrepresented, the resulting disadvantages compound over time.”