We hope these 3 Maxims for avoiding making or reproducing errors in sex difference claims will be useful for biological and social scientists to work toward more robust science & more equitable outcomes in biomedical & health research rdcu.be/eNcRM

Why care about these Maxims? It is a waste of time & resources to prioritize sex-essentialist research when social & structural factors play significant roles in creating disparities. Robust citation practices, examining denominators, & considering alt. hypotheses make better science. (11/12)

Similarly, our ACL paper uses Maxims 2 and 3 to show that the construct of “athlete exposure” can embed gendered structural differences in sport, which may cause researchers to miss simple policy solutions that would address injury rates. (10/12)

Combining Maxims 2 and 3 in our ADE work, we’ve shown that underlying prescription rates (denominator) and a number of gendered social factors (alternate hypotheses) explain a significant portion of trends in apparent disparities in ADEs (9/12)

Maxim 3: Use appropriate denominators. Gendered social processes shape data collection and behaviors. Ex. Findings of sex-linked disparities in COVID-19 case fatality rates do not account for women’s overall increased likelihood of being tested, i.e., having mild/asymptomatic cases captured. (8/12)

Our paper presenting a Gendered Hypothesis for sex differences in adverse drug events highlights the many ways in which gender interacts with the experience and reporting of ADEs (7/12)

Maxim 2: Generate and weigh alternative hypotheses for apparent sex differences. A finding of a difference between categories labeled men/women or male/female could come from many sources! Consider the possibilities, including how data are collected, social factors, & structural inequities. (6/12)

Tracing the claim that women are 2 to 8 times more likely to experience ACL tears than men, we found that the evidence base for the claim was small (based on 3 to 4 studies), observational, and included circular citations. (5/12)

For example, the often-repeated claim that women experience twice the rate of adverse drug events (ADEs) compared to men rests on decades-old, methodologically-limited studies, which we trace in our supplement for this paper. (4/12)

Maxim 1: Engage in responsible citation practices. Taking the time to thoroughly read and evaluate citations for claims and evidence (including tracing citational chain to original sources) is vital to avoid parroting claims based on weak, outdated, or irrelevant data. (3/12)

Building on our prior research on COVID-19, ACL injuries, and adverse drug events we push back against the sex essentialism trap and present three maxims to help us avoid assuming biological sex is the main underlying cause of disparities we see between women and men. (2/12)

Combining Maxims 2 and 3 in our ADE work, we’ve shown that underlying prescription rates (denominator) and a number of gendered social factors (alternate hypotheses) explain a significant portion of trends in apparent disparities in ADEs (9/12)

Maxim 3: Use appropriate denominators. Gendered social processes shape data collection and behaviors. Ex: Findings of sex-linked disparities in COVID-19 case fatality rates do not account for women’s overall increased likelihood of being tested–i.e., having mild/asymptomatic cases captured (8/12)

Our paper presenting a Gendered Hypothesis for sex differences in adverse drug events highlights the many ways in which gender interacts with the experience and reporting of ADEs (7/12)

Maxim 2: Generate and weigh alternative hypotheses for apparent sex differences. A finding of a difference between categories labeled men/women or male/female could come from many sources! Consider the possibilities, including how data are collected, social factors, & structural inequities! (6/12)

Tracing the claim that women are 2-8 times more likely to experience ACL tears than men, we found that the evidence base for the claim was small (based on 3-4 studies), observational, and included circular citations. (5/12)

For example, the often-repeated claim that women experience twice the rate of adverse drug events (ADEs) compared to men rests on decades-old, methodologically-limited studies, which we trace in our supplement for this paper. (4/12)

Maxim 1: Engage in responsible citation practices. Taking the time to thoroughly read and evaluate citations for claims and evidence (including tracing citational chain to original sources) is vital to avoid parroting claims based on weak, outdated, or irrelevant data. (3/12)

Building on our prior research on COVID-19, ACL injuries, and adverse drug events we push back against the sex essentialism trap and present three maxims to help us avoid assuming biological sex is the main underlying cause of disparities we see between women and men. (2/12)