Gender disparity within the Canadian Urological Association

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine gender diversity within the Canadian Urological Association (CUA) and to compare it with the Quebec Urological Association (QUA). Methods: A retrospective review of women’s representation regarding membership, committees’ composition, awards, grants, and conferences between 2012–2022 was performed. Data and gender were extracted from databases and annual meeting programs provided by the CUA and the QUA. Results: In 2022, females accounted for 18% (256/1431) of the membership at the CUA and 23% (52/228) at the QUA. The female proportion of committee members at the CUA increased from 9% (63/676) from 2012–2016 to 14% (177/1230) from 2017–2022 (p≤0.0001). In 2022, the QUA had a significantly higher proportion of female committee members than the CUA, with 39% (15/38) vs. 22% (50/225) women (p=0.0226), respectively. Moreover, from 2012–2022, 11% (5/46) of the CUA awards were given to women, whereas 38% (13/34) of the award winners at the QUA were women over the same time period (p=0.0038). Between 2012 and 2022, there was 16% (20/126) female CUA grant recipients and 44% (14/32) at the QUA (p=0.0095). The proportion of grants awarded to women at the CUA increased from 13% (5/39) in 2012–2016 to 17% (15/87) in 2017–2022.Two percent (1/53) of the plenary invited speakers at the CUA annual meetings from 2012–2016 were women, compared with 21% (14/66) at the QUA annual meetings from 2017–2022 (p=0.0016). Conclusions: Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase in women’s representation at the CUA and the QUA; however, data show that the increase in female representation at the QUA has outpaced that of the CUA.