New Study Shows Two-Thirds of Event Speakers Are Male
December 23, 2019
The all-male speaking panel — or “manel” — has received harsh criticism, with many speakers (both male and female) pledging to not participate in events where gender diversity is an issue. There’s even a Twitter handle (@allmalepanels) that seeks to both shame event organizers and draw more attention to the issue by calling out particularly egregious manels.
Yet a new study from event technology provider Bizzabo shows that the event speaking landscape continues to be male-dominated, with male speakers outnumbering female speakers 2-to-1. And in industries like information technology and services, the numbers are even more disparate, with more than three-quarters of speakers being male.
Bizzabo’s annual Gender Diversity & Inclusion in Events Report analyzed the gender diversity of more than 60,000 event speakers over a seven-year period (2013-2019). It included respondents from 58 countries across five continents, 45 industries and thousands of the world’s largest professional events.
The 2019 report shows that the number of female speakers has grown a mere 3 percent from the previous study, released in November 2018.
“This year’s analysis has shown progress, when compared to last year’s study but, unfortunately, not enough,” said Alon Alroy, Bizzabo co-founder. “The narrow 3-percent bump, even taking into account the smaller dataset used last year, shows that we still have a long way to go before there is greater gender balance within events.”
While science and technology have received the most negative press, the study shows that the discrepancy spans nearly all industries. Education management events appear to be the sole standout, with a true 50/50 balance.
Key Statistics
By country:
- Kenya has the highest number of female speakers, at 40 percent. Mexico is not far behind with 38 percent.
- The U.S. and Canada are slightly ahead of the average, with 64 percent male and 36 percent female speakers.
- The U.K. lags behind with a 69 percent male / 31 percent female split.
By industry:
- Education management – 50 percent male, 50 percent female
- Higher education — 60 percent male, 40 percent female
- Technology — 63 percent male, 37 percent female
- Software — 68 percent male, 32 percent female
- IT Management & Services — 76 percent male, 24 percent female
According to the report, summits (85 percent male versus 15 percent female) and conferences/conventions (66 percent male versus 34 percent female) are the least diverse event types barring user groups, which report in as almost exclusively male.
“Fixing the problem requires a conscious effort on the part of conference organizers to look outside their immediate networks and to set goals, like aiming for 50/50 representation,” said Bizzabo Co-Founder and CEO Eran Ben-Shushan.
Have you taken steps towards ensuring gender equality and inclusivity at your events (note that this study did not include non-binary as an option)? If so, how have you approached this?
Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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