Gender Representation and Strategies for Panel Diversity: Lessons from the APSA Annual Meeting

• Published in: PS, political science & politics Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 669 - 676
• Main Authors: Goodman, Sara Wallace, Pepinsky, Thomas B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01-10-2019
• Subjects: Career Development; Careers; Conferences; Conferences (Gatherings); Doctoral Programs; Equality; Faculty Promotion; Females; Gender; Gender identity; Interpersonal Relationship; Meetings; Membership; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Opportunities; Political representation; Political science; Population; Professional development; Representation; Scholars; Scientists; Social interaction; Social networks; Student Evaluation; The Profession; Women; Workshops
• ISSN: 1049-0965; 1537-5935
• DOI: 10.1017/S1049096519000908

Gender representation is a pervasive problem in political science. We draw on evidence from the 2017 and 2018 American Political Science Association (APSA) Annual Meeting programs to discuss diversity and representation in large political science disciplinary conferences. APSA program divisions differ substantially in their gender representation: although some are representative of their organized-section membership, others are not, and some sections are particularly likely to feature “manels.” We present representation data by organized section, with discussions of what representation looks like and identifying different types of representation goals. We conclude by offering guidelines for increasing gender representation, for both future submitters and program chairs.