Document detail

Taking stock: data and evidence on gender equality in digital access, skills and leadership

United Nations University; Equals Global Partnership (2019), 338 pp., many tables, figures, abbrev. p.14-16
"1. While gender gaps are observable in most aspects of ICT access, skills and leadership, the picture is complex. There are large regional variations: some countries are close to parity or have even reversed the gender gap on some indicators, while others still have persistent gaps. Individual countries can have both large and small gaps, depending on the indicator being measured. Interpreting the gaps requires careful and contextualised analysis.<NZ>2. Barriers to gender digital equality are generally related to one or more of the following: 1) availability of infrastructure; 2) financial constraints; 3) ICT ability and aptitude; 4) interest and perceived relevance of ICTs; 5) safety and security; and 6) socio-cultural and institutional contexts. Most of these barriers cut across issues of access, skills, and leadership, although they may manifest in slightly different ways. While research has documented these barriers, the evidence from different sources is sometimes contradictory, even within the same country contexts.<NZ>3. There is no one conclusive strategy for eliminating gender digital inequalities. Recommendations generally call either for targeting specific contributing factors of gender digital inequality (such as affordability or recruiting practices), or for reshaping deeply ingrained social norms and practices (such as gender stereotypes) that are at the root of gender inequalities. As with the evidence on barriers, research results are sometimes contradictory or nuanced.<NZ>4. The dominant approaches to gender equality in ICT access, skills, and leadership mostly frame issues in binary (male/female) terms, thereby masking the relevance of other pertinent identities. Insufficient research has been done on the implications of ICTs for intersectional identities. Data collection should move from binary sexdisaggregation towards finer degrees of status disaggregation in order to recognise multiple and interacting identities (such as sexuality, poverty, class, education, age, disability, and occupation).<NZ>5. To ensure privacy and safety as well as full participation in the digital economy, women should have equal opportunities to develop adequate basic and advanced digital skills. Cyberstalking, online harassment, image manipulation, privacy violations, geotracking, and surveillance can compromise women’s and girls’ safety both online and offline. In addition, some evidence suggests the digital transformation of labour may be widening gender wage gaps. These outcomes can be averted with the right types of training combined with social and institutional change.<NZ>6. Developments in digital technologies open new pathways to gender diversity and inclusion; however, lack of attention to gender dynamics and differences hampers the potential for true progress. For example, evidence suggests that most women’s work in the digital economy, particularly in the Global South, reinforces existing social divisions. Moreover, artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, designed largely by men, tend to ignore the negative gender implications of their designs. Research, government policy and design principles should include gender awareness and analysis, for example by building in data and privacy protections and avoiding gender stereotypes." (Key findings, p.19-20)
Contents
PART ONE
1 Gender Equality in ICT Access, 24
2 Gender Equality in ICT Skills, 46
3 Gender Equality in ICT Industry Leadership, 78
4 The Dark Side of ICT Access, Skills, and Leadership, 112
5 Barriers to Gender Equality and Recommendations, 136
6 The State of Sex-disaggregated Data, 160
PART TWO
PEOPLE
1 Gender variance and the gender digital divide, 208
2 Towards understanding the Digital Gender Gap in the Global South, 220
3 Technologies and youth: Key dimensions for investigating gender differences in internet access and use, 244
4 Accessibility, intersectionality, and universal design: How overlapping forms of discrimination limit access to technology for women with disabilities, 252
5 ICT in a changing climate: A path to gender-transformative food security, 262
SKILLS
6 The role of educational institutions in closing STEM education gaps, 274
7 The gender wage gap in the digital era: The role of skills, 282
8 Skills development and young women’s work in the call centre industry in South Africa, 294
9 A gender perspective on security and privacy in the digital age, 304
PATHWAYS
10 Investigating empowering narratives around women, work, and technology, 312
11 A gender perspective on technology transfer and wealth creation, 322
12 “Hello Siri, how does the patriarchy influence you?” — Understanding artificial intelligence and gender inequality, 330