Gender Distribution of Speakers at Turkish Dental Association International Dental Congresses: A Cross-Sectional Analysis (2014–2025)

Aim This study evaluated gender distribution among speakers at Turkish Dental Association (TDB) congresses and compared representation between invited speakers and oral presenters. Material and method A descriptive cross-sectional analysis was conducted using scientific programs from TDB congresses between 2014 and 2025, excluding 2020–2021 due to COVID-19. Speakers were classified as invited or oral presenters. Gender was identified using names and public sources. Descriptive statistics were calculated; associations were tested with Pearson Chi-square. Yearly comparisons used binomial proportion tests and trends were analyzed with linear-by-linear association (p<0.05). Results A total of 3661 speakers were analyzed: 2239 (61.2%) female and 1422 (38.8%) male. Of these 1095 (29.9%) were invited speakers and 2566 (70.1%) oral presenters. A significant association existed between gender and presentation type (p<0.001). Women predominated among oral presenters (72.0%), while men were more represented among invited speakers (64.3%). Male predominance among invited speakers was observed in most years with significant differences except in 2014 and 2023 (p<0.05). No significant linear trend in female representation was found (p=0.367). In contrast, female representation among oral presenters increased significantly over time with consistent predominance from 2016 onward (p<0.05) and a peak in 2023 (79.9%). A significant upward trend was detected (p<0.001). Conclusion Despite strong female representation in oral presentations, this representation did not extend to invited speaker roles. These findings may suggest that gender imbalance persists at higher levels of academic visibility and highlight the importance of monitoring the distribution of visible academic roles.