# A Seven-Decade Analysis: What Does the Gender Breakdown of Award Recipients in the All India Ophthalmological Society Reveal?

## TL;DR

This study examines gender disparities in awards given by an Indian ophthalmology society over 73 years, finding significant underrepresentation of women, though with signs of improvement over time.

## Contribution

The study provides a long-term analysis of gender representation in ophthalmology awards in India, identifying trends and factors influencing recognition.

## Key findings

- Men received the majority of awards across all categories, with women significantly underrepresented.
- Fewer women were awarded before the 21st century, and self-nominated candidates were predominantly male.
- The proportion of female awardees has increased over time, indicating a positive trend toward inclusivity.

## Abstract

Introduction

Professional awards and honors given by the medical societies help their members to boost their academic excellence and encourage leadership opportunities. The present study aimed to analyze the gender distribution of award recipients, identify any existing gender disparities, and assess factors influencing recognition in the field of ophthalmology.

Methods

This was an observational study with data extracted from the publicly available All India Ophthalmological Society (AIOS) website. Seventy-three years of data from the award recipients were reviewed. Individuals' gender was determined based on the first name and confirmed through internet searches of pronoun descriptors from professional websites. Key outcome measures were the gender distribution by year (1949-2022), category (achievement, scientific investigation/research, contribution to society/leadership, or lifetime achievement), and nomination type (self or society). Comparisons were made using Fisher's exact and chi-square tests when appropriate, with statistical significance set at a two-tailed P-value of <0.05.

Results

Of 452 award recipients across 31 AIOS award categories between 1949 and 2022, 323 recipients (71.5%) were men and 129 (28.5%) were women. Men received 96.7%, 78.6%, and 65.2% of awards in the contribution to society/leadership, achievement, and scientific investigation/research category, respectively, highlighting a significant underrepresentation of women in award distribution. Analysis of factors influencing gender distribution revealed that the award year, nomination type, and award category significantly impacted gender representation. Notably, fewer women were awarded before the start of the 21st century, and self-nominated candidates were predominantly skewed towards male recipients.

Conclusion

This study reveals significant gender disparities in award distribution within the Indian Ophthalmological Society. However, an increase in the proportion of female awardees over the years suggests a positive trend towards inclusivity.