Equity Gaps in Youth Conferences: Implications for Mentoring

F Aslam, G Antony, A Arora, S Jindal, E Vargas, and A Firzana (2026). Beyond the Air Ticket: What Young People Actually Gain from Global Conferences. Social Science Reports.

Introduction

Global youth conferences are often promoted as equitable platforms for leadership, skill development, and intercultural exchange. Aslam and colleagues (2026) challenge that assumption, arguing that conference benefits are unevenly distributed and shaped more by socioeconomic status than by motivation or merit. Drawing on youth development and mobility theory, the authors position conferences as contested developmental spaces rather than inherently democratizing experiences.

Methods

Using a cross-sectional mixed-methods design, the researchers surveyed 75 youth conference participants from the Asia-Pacific region. Data were collected via an online questionnaire capturing demographics, funding sources, motivations, perceived barriers, satisfaction, and outcomes. Quantitative analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, chi-square tests, clustering, and machine-learning models, complemented by thematic analysis of open-ended responses.

Results

Three participant profiles emerged: Budget Students, Aspiring Professionals, and the Corporate Elite. Satisfaction strongly correlated with event cost (r ≈ .85), with employer-funded professionals reporting the highest legitimacy and networking gains. Family-funded students attending low-cost events reported the lowest satisfaction, often describing outcomes as symbolic rather than developmental.

Discussion

Findings reveal a “legitimacy gap” in which conferences function as stratified marketplaces. While marketed as inclusive, many youth-focused events underdeliver for marginalized participants, reinforcing existing inequalities. Importantly, age and event design—not venue prestige—predicted repeat participation, highlighting youth sensitivity to authentic value.

Implications for Mentoring Programs

Mentoring initiatives should prioritize substantive engagement over access alone, embed structured mentorship and outcomes, and advocate for transparent, equity-focused conference models that convert participation into genuine developmental gains.

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