New Research Shows Men Still Outnumber Women as Experts in Science News

Why It Matters

The persistent male bias in expert sourcing reinforces stereotypes about who can be a scientist, influencing public perception and policy support for gender equity in STEM. Addressing this media gap is a low‑cost lever to accelerate broader systemic change.

Key Takeaways

• Women quoted in Australian science news rose from 20% to 45%
• Male experts appear in 76% of sampled science articles
• Female journalists more likely to cite female experts, and vice versa
• STEM workforce in Australia is only 31% female
• Global right‑wing policies are stalling women’s entry into STEM

Pulse Analysis

Media representation shapes public understanding of science, and the latest Australian study highlights a lingering gender imbalance in expert voices. While the proportion of female journalists covering science has risen, the pool of quoted experts remains overwhelmingly male, with 76% of citations coming from men. This disparity is especially pronounced in disciplines traditionally dominated by women, such as health and environmental studies, suggesting that newsroom sourcing practices, rather than field composition, drive the bias.

The research also uncovers a clear gender echo chamber: male reporters preferentially quote male scientists, and female reporters do the opposite. This pattern reinforces existing stereotypes and limits the visibility of qualified women, even as the overall STEM workforce in Australia includes only 31% female researchers. By diversifying source lists, journalists can break the cycle of repetitive male‑centric narratives, offering audiences a more accurate picture of who conducts scientific work today.

Globally, the issue resonates amid rising political resistance to gender equity initiatives in countries like Brazil, Hungary, and the United States. As right‑wing policies curb diversity programs, media outlets become an even more critical arena for counteracting bias. Showcasing women as credible experts not only challenges entrenched stereotypes but also supports broader efforts to retain and attract women in STEM fields, fostering a more inclusive scientific community.