Women authors underrepresented among retracted medical papers
Women are underrepresented among authors of retracted publications, particularly in cases involving multiple retractions, according to a new study published November 19, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by Paul Sebo of the University of Geneva, Switzerland.
Gender disparities in scientific authorship are well documented, yet little is known about gender representation among authors of retracted publications. However, understanding the demographics of authors of retracted publications could shed light on the social and professional dynamics that lead to retractions.
In the new study, Sebo analyzed 878 retracted publications from 131 high-impact medical journals across ...