OBJECTIVES: Despite increasing gender equity in the rheumatology workforce, disparities persist in leadership roles and prestigious career awards. The study aimed to identify key factors contributing to the under-representation of women among recipients of prestigious career awards in rheumatology. METHODS: A 13-item e-survey was distributed to rheumatologists and allied health professionals globally to identify factors contributing to gender disparity in award conferral. RESULTS: Among 227 respondents from 40 countries, 68.3% were female. The most significant barrier identified was the competing demands of domestic responsibilities on women (42.9%). Additional factors included a lack of female nominees (38.7%), limited visibility of female candidates (38.3%), and fewer leadership opportunities (35.0%). CONCLUSION: This study underscores the impact of domestic responsibilities and restricted professional opportunities on gender inequity in rheumatology awards. These results call for diversification of selection committees, enhanced transparency in nomination and accurate assessment of the gender-specific impacts of career breaks on productivity.