At Stella, we believe that quality research plays a crucial role in driving systemic change.
Through our range of research work, we seek to tell a story about the state of gender equality in Australian literature, and hold the sector to account into the future.
Explore the findings of our long-running Stella Count initiative below, as well as a range of other research projects.
The Stella Count
The Stella Count is Australia’s leading statistical analysis of gender bias in the field of book reviewing in Australia. Begun in 2012, it collects and interprets data on the gender of authors and reviewers, length of review, and genre of books reviewed.
Explore our findings over the last decade, and help us hold the literary sector to account on providing equal representation for women writers.
“The Stella Count has been a driving force in persuading literary editors to review more books written by women and to commission more women reviewers.”
— Jane Palfreyman
Australian Publisher
“For the first time in the history of the Stella Count, the 2019 and 2020 data tells us that more books by women authors than by men authors are being reviewed in Australia’s book pages. This is a milestone to be celebrated because equal access to book reviews will make a genuine difference to the lives and reputations of Australian women authors.”
— Melinda Harvey
Monash University
