How COVID Worsened Gender Gaps in Academic Productivity

This article examines how the COVID-19 pandemic differentially affected the research productivity of male and female academics and whether the crisis may further widen existing gender gaps in both the short and long term.

📊 How the evidence was gathered

• Early evidence comes from an online survey of academics, supplemented by interview data.
• Interviews were conducted with regional and international female political scientists to deepen understanding of women’s experiences during the pandemic.

🔎 Key findings

• Survey and interview results reveal a disproportionate impact on women’s perceived research productivity during the pandemic.
• Clear gender disparities emerged in reported service workloads, with women reporting heavier non-research responsibilities.
• Initial evidence points to particularly pronounced effects for academics who are parents, with mothers facing sharper productivity declines.
• These patterns constitute early indications that the pandemic could exacerbate existing gender gaps in academia over both short and long horizons.

📌 Why it matters

Early unequal impacts on productivity and workload distribution risk translating into longer-term career disadvantages for women unless institutions recognize and address these pandemic-era disparities. The findings highlight the need for policy responses that account for differential burdens across gender and caregiving status.