Harvard Lecturer's Reappointment Review Includes Protest Over Insufficient Female Citations

A Harvard lecturer, Jimmy Doyle, is reportedly encountering an unexpected hurdle in his reappointment process, triggered by an anonymous reviewer's critique concerning the gender balance of citations within his submitted book manuscript. The formal inclusion of this protest in Doyle's academic file underscores the increasing scrutiny on equitable citation practices within higher education.

In a public statement, Doyle revealed that he submitted two chapters of a book manuscript for his reappointment review. An anonymous reader subsequently "protested that I hadn’t cited enough women," specifically mentioning certain names. Doyle clarified that "All were cited in other chapters. Some are friends of mine," indicating that the cited individuals were present elsewhere in his broader work.

Harvard University's reappointment procedures for lecturers typically involve a comprehensive evaluation of scholarly contributions and teaching effectiveness. These reviews, conducted by department heads and the Office for Faculty Affairs, can include peer assessments and, for some positions, external evaluations, where the depth and breadth of a scholar's work are critically examined.

The critique leveled against Doyle reflects a growing awareness of gender bias in academic publishing. Extensive research across various scholarly fields consistently demonstrates a "gender citation gap," where publications by women authors are frequently under-cited, while those by men are over-cited, relative to their actual representation. Studies suggest that this imbalance is often perpetuated by the citation habits of male academics.

This systemic issue can have significant consequences for the careers of women in academia, affecting opportunities for promotion, research funding, and professional recognition. While factors such as homophily—the tendency to cite those within one's own network—contribute to this disparity, the broader conversation points to an entrenched undervaluation of women's intellectual contributions.

The formal documentation of such a critique in a lecturer's file signals a heightened institutional focus on addressing these biases. As academic institutions worldwide commit to fostering more diverse and inclusive environments, the meticulous examination of citation patterns is becoming an integral part of faculty performance reviews, aiming to ensure equitable recognition of scholarship across all genders.