Bibliographic Information
Article Title
Who writes about Archaeology? An intersectional study of authorship in archaeological journals
Journal Title
American Antiquity
Author(s)
Heath-Stout, Laura
Year of Publication
2020
Volume Number
85
Issue Number
3
Article Pages
407-426
Web Address (URL)
Additional Information
Available Through
Cambridge University Press
Language
English
Notes
Since the 1980s, activist archaeologists have used quantitative studies of journal authorship to show that the demographics of archaeological knowledge production are homogeneous. This literature, however, focuses almost exclusively on the gender of archaeologists, without deeply engaging with other forms of identity or adequately addressing the methodological limitations of assigning binary gender identifications based on first names. This paper rectifies these limitations through an intersectional study of inequities in academic archaeological publications by presenting the results of a survey of authors who published in 21 archaeology journals over a 10-year period (2007–2016). This survey asked them to provide their self-identifications in terms of gender, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. The results demonstrate that although there has been an influx of women archaeologists in recent decades, we have not yet reached gender parity. They also show that because many women archaeologists are cisgender, white, and heterosexual, the discipline's knowledge producers remain relatively homogeneous. Furthermore, although there is demographic variation between journals, there is a strong correlation between journal prestige and the percentage of authors who are straight, white, cisgender men. This intersectional study of journal authorship demographics provides a comprehensive perspective on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the discipline of archaeology.`
Taxonomies
RPA Codes & Standards
Keywords & Terms
- Accountability
- Adequate and Responsible Reporting, Publication, and Dissemination
- Continuity of Records
- General Archaeological Ethics
- Integrity of Research Methodology and Field Procedures
- Intellectual Property
- Open Access
- Permissions
- Professional Relationships and Communication
- Professional Standards