Journal Policies

Welcome to the

Global Women's Science,
Nature and Society

Policies

Article Processing Fee

At "Global Women’s Science, Nature, and Society," we are committed to making high-quality research accessible and affordable, especially for authors from the Global South. To support this mission, we offer differential rates for authors based on their geographic location. Please see the World Bank Country Groups by income HERE.

Free

Low, Lower-Middle, and Upper-Middle Income Economies

USD 550

High Income Economies

Peer Review

As a peer-reviewed journal, we uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and quality in publishing. Our peer review process is conducted by external experts who are leaders in their respective fields. We employ a double-blind review process, meaning that both the reviewers and the authors are kept anonymous to each other to ensure impartiality and fairness. It's important to note that we do not accept author recommendations for reviewers, ensuring an unbiased selection process. All submitted materials, including any supplementary files, are subject to peer review.

Publication Frequency

The journal adopts a rolling publication model, allowing for the continuous and dynamic dissemination of research findings. Under this model, articles are published online immediately upon completion of the peer review and editorial processes, without waiting for the assembly of a scheduled issue. This approach ensures timely access to the latest research and insights in women's health, reflecting the journal's commitment to rapid knowledge dissemination. The rolling publication model facilitates a steady stream of high-quality content, providing researchers and practitioners with up-to-date information and enabling the journal to respond swiftly to emerging trends and discoveries in the field.

Fee Transparency

The journal is committed to transparency in its fee structure. Any fees charged, such as article processing charges (APCs), are clearly stated and justified. The journal ensures that fee policies are communicated clearly to authors at the time of submission, and we strive to make our publication processes as accessible as possible.

Open Science Practices

The journal encourages open science practices, including the sharing of data, code, and other materials associated with research projects. This transparency supports the replication and verification of results, enhancing the credibility and utility of the research. Authors are encouraged to make their data available in reputable repositories and to provide access to any materials that would facilitate the replication of their work.

License

Our journal is committed to maximizing the accessibility and impact of research in women's health. To this end, all content is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) license. This licensing model allows for unrestricted sharing and adaptation of the published work, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and the source, a link to the license is provided, and any changes made are indicated. The CC-BY license supports our open access policy, ensuring that authors retain copyright to their work while facilitating the widest possible dissemination and use of research findings. By adopting this license, we endorse a transparent and open exchange of knowledge, empowering researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to build upon this work to advance the field of women's health.

Preservation/archiving

Long-term accessibility and preservation of published content are paramount for our journal. We have partnered with the Public Knowledge Project Preservation Network (PKP PN) to ensure the enduring availability and reliability of the digital scholarly record. The PKP PN provides a decentralized and geographically distributed archiving system, safeguarding against data loss and ensuring that the journal's articles remain accessible to the academic community and the public in perpetuity. This preservation strategy underscores our commitment to the stewardship of research in women's health, guaranteeing that current and future generations can access and build upon the valuable contributions made by our authors.

Ethics Policies

Allegations of Misconduct

The journal takes allegations of misconduct seriously and is committed to investigating them thoroughly and confidentially, in accordance with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or unethical research practices. Upon receiving an allegation, we will initiate a preliminary investigation and, if necessary, collaborate with the relevant institutions or bodies to reach a resolution. Our aim is to ensure the integrity of the research we publish and to uphold the trust of the academic community and the public.

Conflicts of Interest/Competing Interests

We require all authors, reviewers, and editors to disclose any relationships or interests that could inappropriately influence, or appear to influence, their work. This includes financial, personal, or professional affiliations that might be perceived as a conflict of interest. Disclosure of such conflicts helps to maintain transparency and integrity in the publication process, ensuring that all decisions are made based on the merits of the work and not influenced by external factors.

Data and Reproducibility

The journal encourages the sharing of data and methods to enhance the transparency, reproducibility, and credibility of the research we publish. Authors are encouraged to provide access to the data underlying their findings, either by depositing in a public repository or by including it as supplementary material with their publication, whenever possible and ethical. This practice allows other researchers to verify and replicate the work, contributing to the accumulation of reliable knowledge in the field of women's health.

Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants or animals must adhere to the highest ethical standards. Authors must provide evidence of approval from the relevant ethics committees or institutional review boards, and must describe in their manuscripts how informed consent was obtained from participants (or their guardians). We are committed to ensuring that all research published in our journal respects the dignity, rights, and welfare of all participants.

Intellectual Property

The journal is committed to respecting intellectual property rights and expects authors to certify that their work is original, properly cited, and does not infringe upon the rights of others. Our adoption of the CC-BY license facilitates the responsible sharing of knowledge by allowing others to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the work, provided the original author is appropriately credited.

Journal Management

The integrity of our editorial and peer-review processes is paramount. We strive to ensure that all manuscripts are evaluated fairly, objectively, and confidentially, based solely on their academic merit. Our editorial team and reviewers are selected for their expertise and are expected to adhere to our confidentiality and conflict-of-interest policies.

Post-publication Discussions and Corrections

We support scholarly debate and encourage constructive post-publication discussion of the work we publish. The journal is committed to addressing concerns, clarifying misunderstandings, and correcting errors in a timely manner to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scientific record. This includes issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions as necessary and ensuring that such changes are clearly communicated to the readership.

Plagiarism

We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism. All submissions are screened using plagiarism detection software to ensure the originality of content. Authors are expected to ensure that their work is entirely original, and where the work and/or words of others are used, they must be appropriately cited or quoted. Plagiarism, in any form, is unethical and unacceptable, and cases of suspected plagiarism will be investigated and addressed accordingly.

Corrections and Retractions

The journal recognizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of the scientific record. As such, we are committed to publishing corrections, clarifications, retractions, and apologies when needed. Corrections are made to articles that contain minor errors which do not affect the validity of the research. Retractions are published in cases of serious errors that invalidate the findings, or in cases of ethical misconduct. The journal follows the guidelines provided by COPE for handling corrections and retractions.

Appeals

The journal provides a clear and fair process for authors to appeal editorial decisions. Authors who wish to appeal a decision must provide a detailed justification, including a point-by-point response to the reviewers’ and/or editors' comments. The appeal will be considered by the editorial team, and in some cases, an independent review may be sought. The journal's decision following an appeal is considered final.

Author Rights and Responsibilities

Authors retain significant rights under the CC-BY license, including the right to be identified as the author of the work and to share and distribute their work widely. However, with these rights come responsibilities, including ensuring the accuracy and integrity of their work, disclosing any potential conflicts of interest, and adhering to ethical research practices. Authors are also responsible for obtaining permissions for any copyrighted material used within their submissions.