Gender and regional equity in the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology: a longitudinal analysis of a professional medical society

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate longitudinal trends in gender and regional equity in membership and governance representation within the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology and the European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists.

Methods: We analyzed European Society of Gynaecological Oncology and European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists membership and governance data from 2013 to 2024. Descriptive analyses were supplemented with multi-variable logistic regression models to identify predictors of female membership and European Society of Gynaecological Oncology Council representation, including European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists status, calendar year or Council term, and United Nations geographic region.

Results: European Society of Gynaecological Oncology and European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists membership increased from 1588 members in 2013 to 3385 in 2024, and female members reached parity by 2024. Female membership was associated with European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists participation (odds ratio 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.73 to 1.91, p <.001) and calendar year (odds ratio 1.04 per year, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.05, p <.001). Compared with Western Europe, female membership was higher in Northern Europe (odds ratio 1.69, 95% confidence interval 1.55 to 1.84, p <.001) and lower in Eastern Europe (odds ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.71 to 0.85, p <.001) and non-European regions (odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.74 to 0.86, p <.001). Gender was not associated with Council membership (odds ratio 0.95, 95% confidence interval 0.63 to 1.42, p =.79), and no independent temporal trend was observed (odds ratio 0.91 per term, 95% confidence interval 0.81 to 1.03, p =.13). Geographic variation was evident, with lower odds of Council representation in Eastern Europe (odds ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval 0.28 to 0.98, p =.05), while estimates for non-European regions were unstable because of sparse representation.

Conclusions: European Society of Gynaecological Oncology and European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists have made substantial progress toward gender equity at the membership level, largely through early-career engagement. Governance representation appears to be influenced more by geographic and structural factors than by gender, highlighting the need for equity-focused strategies that sustain gender-balanced leadership development while addressing regional disparities.

Keywords: Gender Equity; Gynecologic Oncology Workforce; Health Workforce; Leadership and Governance; Professional Medical Societies; Regional Diversity; Workforce Diversity.