Gendered Publishing Patterns and Occupational Trends, Oceania Archaeology 2005-2020: Regional Journal Results

Abstract

This study examines ongoing issues of gender disparity in archaeology, a maledominated academic profession, from a U.S.-based perspective. Specifically, we investigate the link between gender and the publishing of archaeological research in Oceania among a broad cross section of archaeologists: those working in academia, museums, the private sector, and Cultural Resource Management (CRM), federal agencies, research institutes, those working for Indigenous Pacific Islander communities, and those working independently. After providing a general discussion of gendered studies in archaeology globally within the discipline, and then more specifically in Oceania, we turn to our own results illustrating authorship across nine regional Oceania archaeology journals over a 16 years (2005–2020). We examine how these publications correlate with first-author gender and with professional affiliation. By linking scholarly publications, gender, and professional affiliation, we explore the professional makeup of archaeology in Oceania and how that professional demography impacts publication. We end with a short discussion outlining what steps can be made moving forward to understand the imbalance in gendered publishing patterns in Oceania.