The paper that got accepted this weekend? It’s the same one that got the R&R with the list of “writing” problems that were actually about the feminist argument of the paper. A big thanks to everyone who gave advice about how to handle it. This is what I did:

I emailed the editor and asked for clarification about how to handle the review, especially since the comments were vague about HOW to fix the mentioned “problem sentences.” (Aside from deleting them—which wasn’t an option for me.)

I argued that, in some cases, I didn’t want to make any changes. I gave a few examples of sections I thought were crucial to the piece and offered citations from the literature on feminist and qualitative methods to back up my point.

I added a note about how much I loved the journal and how committed I was to publishing there if possible.

The editor responded positively, telling me that it was appropriate to refuse to make some changes and that she found my rationale in the sample sections compelling. She said she expected the reviewer would too.

At this point, I emailed back and raised a more pointed concern about the reviewer’s bias toward the feminist argument. She then responded by indicating that she, as the editor, could still choose to accept the piece even if the reviewer was dissatisfied with the revision.

After I submitted the R&R, the paper got accepted within the week. I have no idea if the anti-feminist reviewer took a look at the paper again. But I imagine our back-and-forth helped to make sure the editor and I were on the same page.

This paper has been rejected from other journals multiple times for similar reviews. The hostility toward the feminist argument was so intense that journal editors and former reviewers pulled me aside at conferences to sound the alarm and strategize how to get it published.

In one early review, a reviewer flat-out argued that allowing women to research men’s sexuality was unethical and refused to engage with the piece in any meaningful way. It was the first negative review I ever got for a paper. It was unfair. And I had no idea how to handle it.

But now? I feel pretty confident that I could engage an editor to address these types of biases. I hope this thread helps others do the same. And, again, a huge thank you to everyone who helped me learn how to do this.

The paper is going to be published!!!