Integrating sex and gender in ergonomics research: Scientific advances and ongoing challenges

Applying sex and/or gender (sex/gender) sensitive analysis in ergonomics is essential, as it helps address systemic inequalities that persist in occupational health and workplace design, among others. In this context, the aim of this study is to analyze how sex/gender is integrated in the ergonomics research field through bibliometric and network analysis techniques. The results, based on the analysis of 1106 scientific documents, reveal that although research output in this area has historically been limited, it has grown over the past decades, reflecting an increasing recognition of sex/gender as a relevant variable in ergonomics research. However, sex/gender remains an underrepresented dimension within the field. Sex/gender-focused research is visible in high-impact ergonomics journals, aligned primarily with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The collaboration network highlights the prominence of countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and China, which act as central hubs in the production and dissemination of knowledge. Thematic mapping reveals how ergonomics research on sex/gender covers the main areas of the discipline: physical, cognitive and organizational ergonomics. Moreover, the increasing diversification of the field and the emergence of novel research directions is observed.