CORRESPONDENCE

07 April 2026

By

Richa Chaudhary Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Varun Chaudhary Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Gender disparities are prevalent in academia; the effects of motherhood, for example, are well documented (see Nature https://doi.org/qxwk; 2026 ). Gender-equality initiatives often focus on numerical indicators, such as participation in panels and committees. But increased representation does not necessarily redistribute authority. When participation is the main metric, symbolic inclusion is a poor substitute for structural change.

Nature 652 , 534 (2026)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-01095-6

Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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