Gender Bias in Nobel Prizes

TL;DR

This study investigates whether gender bias exists in Nobel Prize awards beyond the known gender disparities in scientific research, using a Bayesian model to analyze historical data across multiple fields.

Contribution

It introduces a Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify gender bias in Nobel laureates, revealing strong under-representation of women across disciplines.

Findings

Women are significantly under-represented among Nobel laureates.

Gender ratio alone does not explain the low number of female laureates.

Strong evidence of gender bias in Nobel Prize awarding process.

Abstract

Strikingly few Nobel laureates within medicine, natural and social sciences are women. Although it is obvious that there are fewer women researchers within these fields, does this gender ratio still fully account for the low number of female Nobel laureates? We examine whether women are awarded the Nobel Prizes less often than the gender ratio suggests. Based on historical data across four scientific fields and a Bayesian hierarchical model, we quantify any possible bias. The model reveals, with exceedingly large confidence, that indeed women are strongly under-represented among Nobel laureates across all disciplines examined.