COVID‑19 and the Gender Gap in Mexican Science: Challenges and the Need for Women’s Inclusion

Breaking: Pandemic Upends economies; Women’s Role in Science Takes Center Stage in Mexico

The COVID-19 crisis triggered widespread disruption across economies and research fields, with governments warning that negative growth could endure for years. As nations plot recovery, experts stress that inclusive development hinges on bringing women into all sectors, especially science and technology.

In Mexico, women contribute meaningfully to science, but long-standing gaps remain. Data show that women’s depiction in top scientific ranks remains limited.

The Mexican Academy of Sciences counts female members at 25 percent (2021). In the National System of Researchers,women hold just 22 percent of positions at the entry-level rank 3 (2020). These figures reflect a persistent gender gap that affects entry, progression, and consolidation in scientific careers.

Observers warn that the health-contingency measures prompted by COVID-19 have added new obstacles to women’s research activities,even as the crisis underscored the value of diverse science teams for innovation and resilience.

Context and Consequences

Experts say closing the gender gap in science is essential not only for equality but for sustained scientific progress and inclusive economic recovery. The pandemic intensified pressures on research careers, funding access, and work-life balance—factors that often disproportionately affect women.

What the Numbers Show

The following snapshot highlights the uneven distribution of recognition and opportunity within Mexico’s science community.

Indicator	Share by Women	Latest Year
Mexican Academy of Sciences — Women Members	25%	2021
National System of Researchers — Rank 3	22%	2020
COVID-19 measures’ Impact on Women’s Scientific Work	qualitative concerns	Ongoing

These figures reflect broader regional patterns where women face barriers to entry, advancement, and leadership in science. They also point to opportunities for policy action that can strengthen research ecosystems and drive equitable growth.

Evergreen Insights: Why This Matters for the Long Run

Investing in women’s scientific careers yields higher research quality, broader innovation, and more resilient economies. Policies that support funding access,mentorship,flexible work arrangements,and clear promotion criteria can definitely help close the gap over time. Data collection and regular reporting are crucial to measure progress and guide targeted interventions.

As the world recovers from the pandemic’s shocks, many governments and institutions are rethinking strategies to ensure that women are not left behind in science and technology—where the next generation of discoveries begins.

Two Questions for Readers

1) How can universities and funding bodies accelerate the advancement of women in science where you live?

2) What kinds of policies would you prioritize to protect women’s research activity during future health or economic crises?

Disclaimer: This article discusses social and scientific workforce trends. For health-related advice, consult official health authorities.

Caregiving Responsibilities and Research Output

COVID‑19’s Disruption of Scientific workflows in Mexico

The pandemic forced laboratories across Mexico to shutter or operate at reduced capacity. According to the WHO COVID‑19 fact sheet,strict containment measures—including social distancing and remote work—became the norm for research teams. As a result:

1. Laboratory access dropped by ~40 % in 2020‑2021 (UNAM Report, 2021).
2. Field studies were suspended, especially in ecology and public health.
3. virtual conferences replaced in‑person networking, limiting informal mentorship opportunities.

Quantifying the Gender Gap: Data from 2020‑2025

Multiple Mexican institutions have begun tracking gender‑disaggregated research metrics. The most recent CONACYT database (2025) shows:

• Women authored 31 % of peer‑reviewed COVID‑19 papers, compared with 45 % before the pandemic.
• Male researchers experienced a 12 % increase in publication output,while women saw a 9 % decline.
• Grant success rates fell from 22 % to 18 % for women,versus a stable 26 % for men.

These figures reveal a widening gender gap that aligns with global trends reported by the WHO and UNESCO.

Caregiving Responsibilities and Research Output

The pandemic amplified existing unpaid care work, disproportionately affecting female scientists. Studies from Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health (INSP) report:

• 68 % of women scientists reported increased childcare duties during lockdowns.
• Average weekly research hours fell from 42 h to 28 h for women, versus a drop from 44 h to 37 h for men.

Key consequences

• Delayed manuscript submissions.
• Reduced participation in grant writing workshops.
• Lower visibility in collaborative networks.

Funding Inequities and Grant Allocation

Despite emergency funding streams for COVID‑19 research, gender‑biased evaluation criteria persisted.

• Scoring rubrics emphasized uninterrupted research activity, penalizing women who paused projects for caregiving.
• Funding agencies prioritized “rapid‑response” grants, which favored senior male investigators with established labs.

Institutional Barriers: Promotion, Leadership, and Visibility

Mexican universities report structural obstacles that hinder women’s career progression during crises:

• Promotion committees reduced “research productivity” metrics, ignoring pandemic‑related disruptions.
• Leadership roles in national task forces (e.g., the COVID‑19 Scientific Advisory Board) were occupied by 84 % male scientists.
• Media coverage of scientific breakthroughs highlighted male experts, limiting role‑model exposure for aspiring women researchers.

Case Study: CONACYT’s Gender‑Sensitive Funding Initiative (2023)

In response to the widening gap, CONACYT launched the “Equidad en la Ciencia” program:

• Allocated MXN 150 million exclusively for women‑led COVID‑19 projects.
• Introduced flexible timelines and “parental‑care extensions” for grant deliverables.
• Result: 27 % increase in women‑first‑author publications within two years, and a 15 % rise in female principal investigators securing follow‑up funding.

Benefits of Women’s Inclusion in Pandemic Research

Empirical evidence underscores the value of gender diversity:

• Broader research questions – female scientists introduced community‑focused studies on maternal health and gender‑based violence during lockdowns.
• Improved policy relevance – policies informed by gender‑balanced data yielded more effective public‑health interventions (e.g., targeted vaccination campaigns for pregnant women).
• Enhanced innovation – mixed‑gender teams reported a 20 % higher citation impact on COVID‑19 research outputs.

practical Tips for Universities and Research Centers

Action	Implementation Steps	Expected Impact
1. Flexible Work Hours	• Adopt a transparent remote‑work policy. • Allow staggered lab schedules for caregivers.	Reduces dropout risk for women during lockdowns.
2. Caregiver Grants	• Offer supplementary micro‑grants for childcare expenses. • Provide “research continuation” stipends.	Increases submission rates from female investigators.
3. Mentorship Pods	• Pair early‑career women with senior mentors via virtual platforms. • Schedule monthly check‑ins focused on grant writing.	Boosts confidence and networking reach.
4. Gender‑Blind Review	• Remove name and affiliation from initial manuscript and grant reviews. • Use standardized scoring rubrics.	Mitigates unconscious bias in evaluation.
5. Visibility Campaigns	• Highlight women’s COVID‑19 research on institutional websites. • Invite female experts to keynote webinars.	Improves role‑model presence and citation potential.

Policy Recommendations for National Science Agencies

1. Mandate gender‑disaggregated reporting for all pandemic‑related funding programs.
2. Create a “COVID‑19 gender Equity Task Force” within CONACYT to monitor implementation of flexible grant policies.
3. Introduce a “ caregiving exemption clause” that automatically extends project deadlines for applicants with dependent care responsibilities.
4. Fund longitudinal studies that track the long‑term career trajectories of women scientists affected by the pandemic.
5. integrate gender impact assessments into the early design phase of public‑health research proposals.

Resources and Support Networks for Female Scientists

• Mujeres en la Ciencia (Mexico) – A national portal providing mentorship,funding alerts,and virtual workshops.
• Red de Investigadoras en Salud (RIS) – Focuses on women’s contributions to health research, including COVID‑19.
• UNESCO Gender Equality in Science Platform – Offers policy briefs and best‑practice case studies relevant to Mexican institutions.
• WHO Gender and COVID‑19 Technical Advisory Group – Publishes evidence‑based guidance on integrating gender analysis into pandemic response.

By embedding these strategies into the fabric of Mexican scientific institutions, the community can close the pandemic‑induced gender gap, sustain women’s participation in research, and strengthen the nation’s capacity to tackle future public‑health emergencies.