In the field of political science, scholars can contribute to the growing literature on gender and politics in multiple ways. While research articles remain important for scholars to communicate their research, they are not the only way. Scholars might consider other means to contribute to the scholarship, such as through research notes, book reviews, and review essays (a particular type of literature review). Specific to Politics & Gender, Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field are two more avenues for scholars to engage in the gender and politics scholarly conversation. Each of these publication types provides a way for scholars to participate in the conversation about current political phenomena, research innovations, or topics of concern in the field. In what follows, I distinguish between the type of publishing opportunities available in the field of political science and the options specific to Politics & Gender. I also discuss what scholars should think about when considering the type of publication they want to submit.
Research Articles
In addition to publishing books, the main way that scholars communicate their research is through journal articles. Articles do the work of addressing fundamental questions in a novel way. Novelty here might refer to the question being asked, the data brought to bear on the question, or even the perspective being taken. Traditionally, research articles are 7,000 words or more. The world limit for submissions to Politics & Gender is on the longer end of the spectrum at 12,000 words (similar to Perspectives on Politics and the British Journal of Political Science). Authors may, of course, submit articles shorter than the word limit.
Regardless of the length, articles do the work of advancing the conversation by making an argument that there is a puzzle that should be addressed. Articles make the case that the chosen method of analysis, data, or perspective is the best to way to address the puzzle given what we know about previous theoretical orientations or previous empirical work. Thus, articles build on what has previously been done and seek to tell us something new.
Scholars seeking publication in Politics & Gender should ensure that their work is in conversation with scholarship that has appeared in the journal or in the subfield more broadly. The motivation for the article or the puzzle that shapes the research should build on, or at least reference, existing gender-focused work. If gender has not previously been part of the conversation, the article should tell us why a gendered perspective is fundamentally important for how we should understand the concept. As the current and former editors of the journal advise, manuscripts submitted to Politics & Gender should draw on and make a clear theoretical contribution to research on women, gender, and politics (Franceschet, Krook, and Wolbrecht Reference Franceschet, Krook and Wolbrecht2023).
Research Notes
In addition to regular research articles, many journals also accept and publish shorter articles, often called research notes or letters. These short articles often are 4,000 words or fewer. Their content is often more truncated than traditional research articles. For example, they might present new data without necessarily making a theoretical contribution, or perhaps replicate the findings of an existing study with a new type of measure. Politics & Gender does not publish research notes, but does accept several shorter article types. Like research notes, these short articles have aims that are distinct to more conventional research articles
Book Reviews
Book reviews serve as important commentary on recent books in the field. In these reviews, scholars are solicited to provide not only an overview of the argument but also a perspective on what we might learn from this work. Most book reviews are quite short, between 500 and 1,200 words long. In thinking about the review, scholars should lay out the findings and the main argument(s) of the book. Describing what is unique about the perspective the author takes or the evidence that the author use to support the argument(s) is useful here as well.
In addition, book reviews often include a critique. Because scholars may have varying levels of comfort with writing the critique in a book review, there are two approaches to consider. The first approach is to directly analyze the evidence and/or arguments contained in the book. The second approach is to provide an analysis of what other studies should do in lieu of the evidence and arguments presented in the book. Each approach has its merits, and it is up to the individual scholar to decide how they go about writing this part of a review.
Review Essays
Just as book reviews provide a commentary on recent books in the field, review essays provide commentary on the state of knowledge in the field. Similar to a literature review, this type of writing compares previous studies and critically analyzes what questions have been addressed—and not addressed—in a particular research area. Review essays often end by identifying compelling questions and topics that are worthy of future scholarly attention.
Scholars seeking to write a review essay should consider organizing the extant literature and determining what the major trends are in methodological approaches as well as research questions. Scholars should also consider what the existing theoretical conflicts are and where there is room for further research inquiry. These types of reviews can be a useful resource for scholars seeking to get a sense of the published work on a particular topic and identify areas for future study.
Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field
Research articles, research notes, book reviews, and review essays are found in many political science journals. Politics & Gender has two further article types that are unique to the journal: Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field. These publication types allow scholars to engage with the gender and politics literature from a theoretical perspective and from a more practical perspective, respectively.
Pieces that appear in the Critical Perspectives section are intentional in bringing scholars together to provide commentary on a topic in gender and politics research. These essays are coordinated and proposed such that leading experts on the subject matter tell us what we should know about a particular topic, where the research is going next in this area of scholarship, or how we should take up or redefine issues in new ways. While the individual contributions in the Critical Perspective section are short, between 1,500 and 2,500 words, they are impactful. As a collection, the contributions tell a cohesive story about a gendered perspective on a particular subfield topic of interest. Scholars should not only consider the novelty of the topic they wish to cover in a Critical Perspectives section, but also those who can be brought together to give informed commentary on a particular topic.
Notes from the Field is a newer addition to the types of writing displayed in Politics & Gender. In these pieces, scholars bring real-world experiences and practices into conversation with the scholarly literature. Just like Critical Perspectives pieces, these are short-form essays, with a limit of 2,000 words. However, these essays are not focused on what we should know or think about a particular subject area. Instead, these essays tell us what is happening in politics from a gendered perspective and seek to advance the literature with current events in mind. When considering writing a Notes from the Field essay, it is a good idea to reach out to the journal to gauge the appropriateness of the proposed essay.
Final Thoughts
Political science journals offer a range of opportunities for publishing work in the discipline, including research articles, research notes, book reviews, and review essays. Politics & Gender provides room for scholars of various subfields and at various stages of the discipline to shape its content, through traditional research articles but also some innovative shorter contribution types, like Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field. As early career scholars, we can build a rich narrative about the impact of gender in politics through academic journal publications, shaping the broader discipline with new theories, data, and perspectives.
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In the field of political science, scholars can contribute to the growing literature on gender and politics in multiple ways. While research articles remain important for scholars to communicate their research, they are not the only way. Scholars might consider other means to contribute to the scholarship, such as through research notes, book reviews, and review essays (a particular type of literature review). Specific to Politics & Gender, Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field are two more avenues for scholars to engage in the gender and politics scholarly conversation. Each of these publication types provides a way for scholars to participate in the conversation about current political phenomena, research innovations, or topics of concern in the field. In what follows, I distinguish between the type of publishing opportunities available in the field of political science and the options specific to Politics & Gender. I also discuss what scholars should think about when considering the type of publication they want to submit.
Research Articles
In addition to publishing books, the main way that scholars communicate their research is through journal articles. Articles do the work of addressing fundamental questions in a novel way. Novelty here might refer to the question being asked, the data brought to bear on the question, or even the perspective being taken. Traditionally, research articles are 7,000 words or more. The world limit for submissions to Politics & Gender is on the longer end of the spectrum at 12,000 words (similar to Perspectives on Politics and the British Journal of Political Science). Authors may, of course, submit articles shorter than the word limit.
Regardless of the length, articles do the work of advancing the conversation by making an argument that there is a puzzle that should be addressed. Articles make the case that the chosen method of analysis, data, or perspective is the best to way to address the puzzle given what we know about previous theoretical orientations or previous empirical work. Thus, articles build on what has previously been done and seek to tell us something new.
Scholars seeking publication in Politics & Gender should ensure that their work is in conversation with scholarship that has appeared in the journal or in the subfield more broadly. The motivation for the article or the puzzle that shapes the research should build on, or at least reference, existing gender-focused work. If gender has not previously been part of the conversation, the article should tell us why a gendered perspective is fundamentally important for how we should understand the concept. As the current and former editors of the journal advise, manuscripts submitted to Politics & Gender should draw on and make a clear theoretical contribution to research on women, gender, and politics (Franceschet, Krook, and Wolbrecht Reference Franceschet, Krook and Wolbrecht2023).
Research Notes
In addition to regular research articles, many journals also accept and publish shorter articles, often called research notes or letters. These short articles often are 4,000 words or fewer. Their content is often more truncated than traditional research articles. For example, they might present new data without necessarily making a theoretical contribution, or perhaps replicate the findings of an existing study with a new type of measure. Politics & Gender does not publish research notes, but does accept several shorter article types. Like research notes, these short articles have aims that are distinct to more conventional research articles
Book Reviews
Book reviews serve as important commentary on recent books in the field. In these reviews, scholars are solicited to provide not only an overview of the argument but also a perspective on what we might learn from this work. Most book reviews are quite short, between 500 and 1,200 words long. In thinking about the review, scholars should lay out the findings and the main argument(s) of the book. Describing what is unique about the perspective the author takes or the evidence that the author use to support the argument(s) is useful here as well.
In addition, book reviews often include a critique. Because scholars may have varying levels of comfort with writing the critique in a book review, there are two approaches to consider. The first approach is to directly analyze the evidence and/or arguments contained in the book. The second approach is to provide an analysis of what other studies should do in lieu of the evidence and arguments presented in the book. Each approach has its merits, and it is up to the individual scholar to decide how they go about writing this part of a review.
Review Essays
Just as book reviews provide a commentary on recent books in the field, review essays provide commentary on the state of knowledge in the field. Similar to a literature review, this type of writing compares previous studies and critically analyzes what questions have been addressed—and not addressed—in a particular research area. Review essays often end by identifying compelling questions and topics that are worthy of future scholarly attention.
Scholars seeking to write a review essay should consider organizing the extant literature and determining what the major trends are in methodological approaches as well as research questions. Scholars should also consider what the existing theoretical conflicts are and where there is room for further research inquiry. These types of reviews can be a useful resource for scholars seeking to get a sense of the published work on a particular topic and identify areas for future study.
Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field
Research articles, research notes, book reviews, and review essays are found in many political science journals. Politics & Gender has two further article types that are unique to the journal: Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field. These publication types allow scholars to engage with the gender and politics literature from a theoretical perspective and from a more practical perspective, respectively.
Pieces that appear in the Critical Perspectives section are intentional in bringing scholars together to provide commentary on a topic in gender and politics research. These essays are coordinated and proposed such that leading experts on the subject matter tell us what we should know about a particular topic, where the research is going next in this area of scholarship, or how we should take up or redefine issues in new ways. While the individual contributions in the Critical Perspective section are short, between 1,500 and 2,500 words, they are impactful. As a collection, the contributions tell a cohesive story about a gendered perspective on a particular subfield topic of interest. Scholars should not only consider the novelty of the topic they wish to cover in a Critical Perspectives section, but also those who can be brought together to give informed commentary on a particular topic.
Notes from the Field is a newer addition to the types of writing displayed in Politics & Gender. In these pieces, scholars bring real-world experiences and practices into conversation with the scholarly literature. Just like Critical Perspectives pieces, these are short-form essays, with a limit of 2,000 words. However, these essays are not focused on what we should know or think about a particular subject area. Instead, these essays tell us what is happening in politics from a gendered perspective and seek to advance the literature with current events in mind. When considering writing a Notes from the Field essay, it is a good idea to reach out to the journal to gauge the appropriateness of the proposed essay.
Final Thoughts
Political science journals offer a range of opportunities for publishing work in the discipline, including research articles, research notes, book reviews, and review essays. Politics & Gender provides room for scholars of various subfields and at various stages of the discipline to shape its content, through traditional research articles but also some innovative shorter contribution types, like Critical Perspectives and Notes from the Field. As early career scholars, we can build a rich narrative about the impact of gender in politics through academic journal publications, shaping the broader discipline with new theories, data, and perspectives.