The Impact of Gender in ICT Usage, Education and Career

2021

ABSTRACT: Inequalities between men and women exist not only in economy and society but also in education all over the world. Many initiatives are launched to empower women with advanced skills in many countries. This paper describes the policies and initiatives to foster gender equality in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)-related education and employment in Greece. National and European Union (EU) statistics show that there exists a wide gender gap in ICT-related higher education participation, employment, and salaries in Greece. Various policies and initiatives aim at empowering women with digital skills. The paper suggests a framework to fight gender discrimination in ICT across four (4) dimensions (ICT education & training, digital tools & infrastructure, people networking, ICT jobs) and three (3) axes (access, use & participate, create). The resulting framework consists of twelve (12) areas. The paper gives example strategies for some of the areas. Finally, the p...

2019

ICT competences still represent a “stigma” attached to gender around the world. This chapter focuses an analysis on the gender gaps and ICT competences to the access workforce, by analyzing data collected in four European countries (Portugal, Poland, Lithuania and Cyprus) in the scope of a Project “EU Youth: From theory to action (ActYouth).” Within the purpose of answering the hypothesis in understanding, the youth employability, and gender division in the labor market in different regions in Europe, statistical methods were selected and tested. The 537 responses were acquired by questionnaires and interviews and analyzed concerning ICT competences. Data shows that students self-assessment and employer's perspectives of important competences for entry in the labor market. Therefore, an importance performance analysis (IPA) was performed considering the four competences, comparing importance (employers) with performance (students) of competences, and then presented by gender for...

This article examines the gender inequalities in computing, with a particular emphasis on these inequalities within the library and information profession. This includes, discrimination against women in academia; socialisation processes; issues around women's confidence in computing; the male-dominated environment in the computing industry; female isolation in the computing world; females providing ICT support and training (rather than being the main decision-makers); computer programming and screen design and layout; presenteeism and flexible working and social networking. It also notes, in particular, the fact that the number of females in computing continues to fall. Furthermore, there is a section on gender and ICT in Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and developing countries. Consideration is given to a number of issues here, such as some of the ways in which the new technologies can empower women in these countries, but how women are hampered by a lack of resources, education, poor literacy levels and domestic responsibilities. The author suggests that we should seek to find ways to improve this situation, and that social networking could be beneficial here on a short-term basis, but that to find lasting solutions, we should seek to move beyond capitalism itself.

2015

The ICT industry is a key contributor to the EU’s economy. Unfortunately, women’s presence is low overall and it decreases as they climb the corporate ladder. Underrepresentation of women in ICT is a research area that has received attention mostly in U.S.A., UK and some European countries. This phenomenon, termed “IT gender gap”, has not received much attention in Italy, yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study is doing an “initial” research and understanding the characteristics of the IT workplace culture in Italy. Based on the international research, a framework and a questionnaire have been developed. To test the questionnaire, a first research sample (without any statistical relevance compared to the Italian context) has been created and the potential respondents were contacted via email. Data analysis discusses the workplace environmental factors that hinder and support the career development of women in ICT in this country. Understanding the limitations of this research proj...

Why are there fewer and fewer women in ICT professions, while there are increasing numbers of women in other science and engineering professions? Why do young female students turn away from studies leading to ICT jobs, while young girls are just as engaged in Internet use as young boys? Why are women's careers in ICT jobs still characterised by the 'glass ceiling' (invisible obstacles to career progression) and the 'leaky pipeline' (dropout and reorientations)? These questions are not new. The problem is precisely that they are recurrent and aggravated.

2019

Is ICT somehow natural for men, and unnatural for women? Are women underrepresented in ICT professions? Does ICT education harm women? These and similar questions buzzle many. The cornerstones for any profession are set at the education phase, in different education institutions and in the curricula they follow. Gender roles and models accepted in early education will have a long tail paving the way for maybe the whole professional career of an individual. If changes in gender roles in any profession are looked for, professional education is a good place to start with. At the same time, it must be remembered and studied, if gender roles towards ICT are already formulated at the basic education. This article performs a literature review on the gender equality issues in ICT education. The questions presented above are scrutinized especially from the viewpoint of ICT education. There is a severe search for any theoretical explanations why ICT should be male-oriented. At the end, reason...

Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to consider the under‐representation of women in computing, information technology (IT) and information systems in most Western countries. This under‐representation can only be detrimental to society.Design/methodology/approachThe authors discuss recently published studies on the under‐representation of women in this field, and the lack of career progression for women, particularly in positions of senior responsibility. The results of a survey conducted in the UK, Greece, Malaysia and China are presented, and similarities as well as differences are identified. Malaysia and China are included as the under‐representation is much less in the Asian countries.FindingsThe authors identify the main reasons for the under‐representation and lack of career progression, and study the effect of national culture on the formation of strategy and of practice in the four countries.Research limitations/implicationsThe survey respondents are mainly female students ...

2004

Why are there so few women among the professionals of information and communication technology (ICT)? What are the barriers to women choosing and developing careers in ICT professions, and what changes are likely to improve their access and position in this labour market? This European project (Information Society Technologies, 5th Framework Programme) hinges on the development of an integrated approach to the different aspects of gender disparity in the ICT professions. It combines explanatory factors linked to education and training, with the conditions of work and employment, and with the technical and professional culture of ICT. Research teams in seven countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Ireland, Portugal and United Kingdom) have carried out in-depth empirical studies. They suggest targeted recommendations for agents of change in this area.

Australian Educational Computing

This paper reports preliminary work in an ARC Linkage Project involving collaboration among James Cook University, Education Queensland, and Technology One (a Queensland based company). The project aims to identify and interpret factors associated with low female participation rates in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) professional level occupations and education pathways. Data is being collected using qualitative and quantitative methods. A survey is being administered to over 6,000 year 11 and 12 female high school students in Queensland to provide a comprehensive database that will be augmented with individual and focus group interviews. An online survey will be administered to women working in ICT industries. Reference groups representing EQ and ICT industries have been established to provide consultative advice and feedback throughout the project, and to function as working groups during the data analysis and interpretation phases. Project results will inform the ...

Journal of Applied Computing and Information Technology, 2015

For the past two decades there has been an imbalance between male and female students entering the Bachelor of Information Technology degree from high schools. The literature suggests that only one in six students entering higher education to study computer related degrees are female. It also suggests that occupational stereotyping can be linked to the decline in the number of females entering computing degree courses. This research is proposing to revisit and investigate why this is still prevalent in today`s society that has been brought up on technology and can see the benefits of good careers and good jobs.