Updated: February 27, 2025
What is Gender & Society (G&S)?
- G&S is a flagship gender journal (2023 impact factor 7.2) that is the official publication of SWS. Any gender studies scholar can submit an article for peer-review. You do not have to be a member of SWS in order to publish in G&S.
How are G&S editors or co-editors selected?
- The process to become a journal editor/co-editor is extremely competitive. Editors/co-editors are not elected by the members of SWS; they are appointed through a rigorous selection process. Scholars apply to be the editor of G&S and a search committee of SWS members is formed with support from and appointed by the SWS Publications Committee (PUBS).
- Editors/co-editors are invited to serve for a term of 4 years, followed by a three-month transition period to the next editorial team. For example, the current co-editors’ term officially began in May 2023 and will conclude in August 2027.
How is the PUBS Committee organized/appointed? And what forms of support does the PUBS committee provide of G&S?
- The PUBS Committee has 6 elected members. Each year, SWS members elect two new members. The PUBS Committee selects its co-chairs who serve staggered terms to ensure and preserve institutional memory. Six non-voting members on this committee include the Treasurer (Treasurer-elect may observe), G&S Editor/Co-editors, Network News Editor, Book Review Editor and the Executive Officer. The PUBS Committee reports to the Council.
- The PUBS Committee oversees publications issued by SWS. The committee’s duties include (but are not limited to): negotiation of a contract with publishers for Gender & Society, appointment of editors/co-editors for Gender & Society and approval of budgets for the journal, review of proposals for special issues of G&S and appointment of the G&S Book Review editor.
How do the G&S editors or co-editors work with SWS?
- Editors/co-editors report to the Publications (PUBS) Committee of SWS. They are not elected officers within SWS nor are they appointed by SWS leadership (i.e., SWS Council or the SWS Executive Office). Key decisions regarding the journal such as approving special issue proposals and appointment of editorial board members are made in consultation with the PUBS committee.
- Also, there has been a long-standing tradition to publish SWS presidential addresses and SWS Feminist Lecturer Award talks in the journal. Editors/co-editors do not participate in decisions for the SWS Feminist Lecturer Award or any SWS award decisions, nor do they participate in decisions on whether to publish them. Editors/co-editors are charged with sending the talks/manuscripts out for review and working with authors on revisions.
What are the core responsibilities of a G&S editor/co-editor?
- Editors/co-editors are responsible for journal contents during their editorship, publishing six issues/year, and managing the journal and editorial team on a day-to-day basis. They correspond as needed with PUBS Committee chairs, recommending members for the editorial board and deputy editor roles, keeping them abreast of any issues and suggesting relevant policy changes. Editors/co-editors are required to issue formal reports twice yearly to the editorial board and SWS PUBS committee.
What is the difference between a G&S editor/co-editor and a G&S deputy editor?
- The G&S editors/co-editors are SWS authorized agents in exercising editorial control of G&S and fulfilling the responsibilities of G&S. The editors/co-editors report to the SWS PUBS Committee and they have final authority over the content of G&S. In consultation with the PUBS Committee, the G&S editor/co-editors are the sole representative(s) of SWS to communicate to the Publisher, SAGE Publications, and make decisions on editorial policy and content of G&S.
- The G&S deputy editors support the editors/co-editors and attend all editorial board meetings. They handle up to 39 articles per year, which consists of selecting and communicating with reviewers, reading and summarizing reviews, drafting language for decision letters, and communicating with the managing editors and editors.
How are the G&S Editorial Boards and deputy editors selected? And how many people are in these roles?
- There is no fixed number. The group of G&S Deputy Editors and the size of the Editorial Board have varied over the years and are determined by the needs of the editors/co-editors. In previous years, G&S has had 4-5 deputy editors. Editorial board members serve three year terms.
How does Gender & Society address racist, sexist, or otherwise discriminatory reviews?
- If racism, sexism, or other forms of discrimination appear in a review, we may deal with that in one or more of the following ways: 1) by redacting those portions of the review; 2) by retracting the review altogether and seeking a new review; 3) by discussing the issues with the reviewer and asking for a revised review. Depending on the response, an individual may be removed from our reviewer pool. Authors and other reviewers are encouraged to report instances of discrimination in reviews to the editors directly, or to the deputy editors, members of our editorial board, or members of the publications committee of SWS.