Mansplaining, Manels, and Manuscripts, Oh My! Promoting Equitable Otolaryngology Scholarship

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Gender inequity remains a recalcitrant problem in otolaryngology, with far-reaching implications for women’s career advancement, professional satisfaction, reimbursement, mentorship, and psychological safety. The panelists serve in diverse leadership roles, including thought leaders on gender equity, journal editors, and chairs of departments and study sections. This session will open by summarizing the current state of gender equity in otolaryngology scholarship, presenting data on conference presentations, publications, grant funding, chairpersons, and career accolades. Against this backdrop, the presenters will investigate what drives and perpetuates gender inequity. Participants will engage in animated discussion on topics ranging from “mansplaining” and “manels” to unconscious biases and societal norms that affect women’s prospects for success in publishing, grant proposal funding, and leadership roles. The panel will also consider how intersectionality accentuates inequity and amplifies the challenge of attracting diverse applicants to the specialty. Speakers will further discuss underrepresentation of women in leadership of clinical trial sites and industry sponsorship. Obstacles to academic advancement, lack of equitable pay, and inadequate recognition for achievements all hamper the growth of women leaders, which in turn limits the mentors available to inspire the next generation. Rectifying these problems requires broad-based partnership. The speakers will discuss strategies they have used to counteract bias and promote equitable scholarship, such as resident peer review programs, sponsorship, and collaborations across the career continuum. Ongoing progress in gender equity requires culture change and intentionality, inviting women as contributors to conferences, editorial boards, grant review study sections, manuscripts, and other key roles. Leaders who support innovative sponsorship strategies, networking opportunities, and equitable career policies play a vital role in mitigating gender inequity.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 1: Describe the current state of gender equity in otolaryngology with an emphasis on scholarship, including conference presentations, publications, grant funding, and career advancement.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 2: Discuss the drivers of gender inequity in scholarly endeavors and recognize downstream consequences for career mobility, gender pay gap, professional fulfilment, and mentorship.

OUTCOME OBJECTIVE 3: Identify priority areas for intervention and specific strategies to rectify gender inequity through creating opportunities and engaging leaders and stakeholders in creating a more equitable milieu for scientific discourse.

BACKGROUND STATEMENT: Despite tremendous strides by the AAO-HNS WIO and other parallel initiatives, gender inequity in scholarship remains a recalcitrant problem with far-reaching implications for career advancement, mentorship, equitable pay, and psychological safety. We explore evidence and solutions.