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.
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BibTeX
@article{zwimpfer2026gender,
title = {{Gender and regional equity in the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology: a longitudinal analysis of a professional medical society}},
author = {Tibor Zwimpfer and Houssein El Hajj and Alina Sturdza and Rene Verheijen and Sebastien Lamy and Monika Porkertova and Kim Hulscher and Agnieszka Rychlik and Ane Gerda Eriksson and Viola Heinzelmann-Schwarz and Jalid Sehouli and Anna Fagotti and Frédéric Amant and Nicole Concin and Maja Pakiz and Isabelle Ray-Coquard and Martina Aida Angeles and Alejandra Martinez and Rene H.M. Verheijen},
journal = {International Journal of Gynecological Cancer},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.ijgc.2026.104809},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05754682v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gender and regional equity in the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology: a longitudinal analysis of a professional medical society
AU - Tibor Zwimpfer
AU - Houssein El Hajj
AU - Alina Sturdza
AU - Rene Verheijen
AU - Sebastien Lamy
AU - Monika Porkertova
AU - Kim Hulscher
AU - Agnieszka Rychlik
AU - Ane Gerda Eriksson
AU - Viola Heinzelmann-Schwarz
AU - Jalid Sehouli
AU - Anna Fagotti
AU - Frédéric Amant
AU - Nicole Concin
AU - Maja Pakiz
AU - Isabelle Ray-Coquard
AU - Martina Aida Angeles
AU - Alejandra Martinez
AU - Rene H.M. Verheijen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/18
JO - International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
DO - 10.1016/j.ijgc.2026.104809
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05754682v1
AB - 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.
SN - 1048-891X
SN - 1525-1438
ER -