Since 1973, the staff has elected 53 women out of 135 MB slots, about two women for each five-member managing board. This ratio has stayed almost constant for the last 25 years.

In 1988, women held four of the five MB positions. Only once, in 1977, were no women elected to the MB. However, two women were later appointed to that board, one as a replacement to become the first female executive editor and one to fill the newly created position of shop manager (later renamed operations manager).

That often under-appreciated position became a bastion for women, who made up 12 of the first 14 OM/SMs, but only five of the last 10. They also quickly filled the role of business manager, though lately it has become a male position (just two of last 10 have been women).

Women were slow to break into the managing editor role (two of the first 10 elected since 1973) but have since come to dominate that slot, winning seven of the last 10 contests.

But the staff has continually favored men 3-to-1 for its two highest positions, editor-in-chief and executive editor. Only twice, in 1981 and 1988, have women held both posts in the same year. This bias has not improved recently. In the last 10 years, the CD has elected only two female EICs and three female EEs.