Editor's note

On International Women’s Day, we have three stories about women, their achievements and the challenges they continue to face, both in the U.S. and abroad.

Women have long been underrepresented in scientific disciplines, though there are signs that things are – slowly – moving toward equity. University of Washington neuroscientists Ione Fine and Alicia Shen investigated whether women in their field were publishing in high-profile journals at expected rates. They write that what they found was disquieting and that it’s time for journals to lean in to the problem.

Another place women have been underrepresented is in the corporate boardroom. In 2015, they held less than 17 percent of seats at the largest U.S. companies, significantly lower than in many countries in Europe. To better understand why this gender gap persists, corporate governance experts Yannick Thams, Siri Terjesen and Bari Bendell examined the data state by state and found significant variation across the country, from Alaska (the lowest) to New Mexico (almost at parity). Their findings also suggest a solution.

When Michelle Bachelet steps down as Chile’s president on March 11, she will bring to a close not just her own administration but also an entire generation of Latin American female leadership. Since 2006, women have governed in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Costa Rica. Gender scholars Christina Ewig, Jennifer Piscopo and Merike Blofield examine what these four “presidentas” did for women. Spoiler alert: Gender influences policy less than you might think.

Maggie Villiger

Science + Technology Editor

Top Stories
It’s not good if women’s research isn’t in the library stacks. Redd Angelo on Unsplash

Perish not publish? New study quantifies the lack of female authors in scientific journals

Ione Fine, University of Washington; Alicia Shen, University of Washington

Women are underrepresented in academic science. New research finds the problem is even worse in terms of who authors high-profile journal articles – bad news for women's career advancement.
Men’s dominance in the boardroom has barely changed over the years. Everett Collection/Shutterstock.com

Very few women oversee US companies. Here's how to change that

Yannick Thams, Suffolk University; Bari Bendell, Suffolk University; Siri Terjesen, American University

The share of board seats held by women varies dramatically across the country, from none in Alaska to close to half in New Mexico. A few key policies may make all the difference.
Latin America’s era of the woman president is over. What have we learned? Rodrigo Garrido/Reuters

Female presidents don't always help women while in office, study in Latin America finds

Merike Blofield, University of Miami; Christina Ewig, University of Minnesota; Jennifer M. Piscopo, Occidental College

New research on Latin America's four recent female presidents disproves the idea that merely putting a woman in power will improve gender equality.

Health + Medicine

  • Want better sex? Try getting better sleep

    Laurie Mintz, University of Florida

    Research demonstrates a two-way relationship between sleep problems and sexual problems, as well as between satisfying sex and sound sleep. If you want better sex, you need better sleep.

Economy + Business

  • Let them eat carp: Fish farms are helping to fight hunger

    Ben Belton, Michigan State University; Dave Little, University of Stirling; Simon Bush, Wageningen University

    Many critics say that fish farms mainly sell their output to wealthy countries and don't provide much benefit to poor people in producing countries. Three aquaculture experts show why this view is wrong.

Education

Arts + Culture

Politics + Society

Trending on site

Today’s quote

Strikingly, being too tired for sex is the top reason that women give for their loss of desire.
 

Want better sex? Try getting better sleep

Laurie Mintz

University of Florida

 Laurie Mintz