Are female scholars underrepresented in science? Does the gender of an author influence the impact and usage of a scientific paper? Is it more challenging for female scholars than for their male peers to join the club of the most productive elite scholars? The phenomenon of a potential gender bias in favor of male scholars was named the Matilda effect by Margaret W. Rossiter in 1993. Empirical evidence proves that female scholars experience negative discrimination against them worldwide and in virtually all disciplines. They are underrepresented in the higher ranks of academia, less likely to win scientific awards, and receive smaller grants less often than their male colleagues.
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