Has Brazilian Pediatric Dentistry broken the glass ceiling in women’s participation in academic science?

Maria Vitória Zeferino; Julia Moreira Dutra; Luiz Miguel Ferreira; Hercílio Martelli-Júnior; Márcio José da Silva Campos; Karina Lopes Devito; Rosangela Almeida Ribeiro

doi:10.4322/bds.2025.e4844

Autores

Maria Vitória Zeferino UFJF https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3775-7755
Julia Moreira Dutra Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Odontologia. Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7385-6043
Luiz Miguel Ferreira Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia. Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2053-8097
Hercílio Martelli-Júnior Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Faculdade de Odontologia, Departamento de Patologia e Medicina Oral. Montes Claros, MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9691-2802
Márcio José da Silva Campos Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Odontologia. Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3217-9001
Karina Lopes Devito Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Odontologia, Departamento de Clínica Odontológica. Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5037-5466
Rosangela Almeida Ribeiro Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Faculdade de Odontologia, Departamento de Odontologia Social e Infantil. Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6472-5965

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/bds.2025.e4844

Resumo

Objective: To investigate gender-based disparities in academic performance among leading researchers in Brazilian Pediatric Dentistry, a field where female representation is high but leadership and recognition may remain unequal. Methods: Using a bibliometric approach, we analyzed data from 29 research productivity grant holders listed by Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Researcher profiles, scientific output, and student supervision data were extracted from publicly available Lattes CVs between October and November 2024. Metrics were evaluated across the researchers’ entire careers and for the recent five-year period (2019–2024). Results: Women comprised 62.1% of the sample and authored 61.3% of all publications in the period studied. However, men had significantly higher average citation counts for their most cited publications (p = 0.021 in Scopus; p = 0.029 in Web of Science), as well as higher h-index and m-index values. Men were also more likely to supervise PhD students, while women were more active in mentoring undergraduate and master’s students. Conclusion: Despite the numerical majority of women, the data suggest that gender disparities may still exist in academic impact and research visibility. These findings highlight the need for policies that not only promote women’s participation in science but also ensure equitable recognition and advancement in academic dentistry.

KEYWORDS

Brazilian research; Gender equity; Pediatric dentistry; Scientific production; Women.