1. Gender in the Global Information Economy
Dr. Eileen M. Trauth
College of Information Sciences and Technology
Center for the Information Society
The Pennsylvania State University

2. The Problem of Gender Diversity in the Global IT Field: Who Cares?
Consumer argument (business)
Innovation argument (business)
Equity argument (society)
Demographic argument (society)
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

3. Athens University of Economics & Business
Agenda
Gender, globalization and the information economy
Socio-cultural Influences on gender in the global information economy
Socio-cultural issues for gender in the Greek information economy
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

4. The Information Economy
Information Society
Information Economy
Primary Information
Sector - Producers
Secondary
Information
Sector –
Consumers
HW, SW, systems/services
Content
IT people
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business 4

5. The Global Information Economy
Telecommunications
Internet
Outsourcing/offshoring
Global work teams
Global software development
European Union
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

6. Information Society in Austria
Pervasive
“By 2015 about four fifths of all human work will consist of handling information…”
e-inclusion
“eEurope Action Plan 2005 focuses above all on users, male and female. At all levels and for all activities full social participation is paramount…”
EQUAL – EU initiative to fight discrimination and inequality in the labor market has specific programs to support women and ICT
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

7. Human Diversity in the Global Information Economy
Nationality
Race
Ethnicity
Age
Socio-economic class
Gender
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

8. Athens University of Economics & Business
Gender as Diversity
A type of diversity => apply diversity concepts
Where gender is similar to and different from other types of diversity
Gender interacts with other types of diversity
(e.g. race)
All societies experience gender, do not necessarily experience other types of diversity
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

9. Benefits of Diversity: Economic Development & Innovation
Knowledge (services) economy
Technology (fuels knowledge economy)
Services vs. technology
continuous innovation vs. commodity
Talent (human capital development)
- brainpower & creativity to fuel innovation
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

10. Benefits of Diversity: Economic Development & Innovation
Tolerance (of human differences)
Richard Florida (“Creative Economy”) proposition: for attracting and retaining talent
Trauth proposition:
for stimulating creativity/innovation atmosphere
for accepting new ideas of new people
for lowering barriers to entry to field
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

11. Benefits of Diversity: Economic Development & Innovation
Stimulating innovation
Creative thinking
Workers representative of consumer base
Competitive advantage
Broader lens => wider set of opinions/experiences => more creativity & better decision making
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

12. Reality of Diversity: Globalization of IT Sector
Cross-cultural IT work
Cross-cultural IT clients
Adapting to cultural differences re: gender
Cultural differences in the global workplace: work ethics, work styles, customs
Work relationships
Working with people who are ‘different’ from you
How similar tasks differ from nation to nation
Diversity and communication in small groups
Diverse project teams
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

13. Socio-cultural Influences on Gender in the Global Information Economy
Culture
Perception of work style in IT incompatible with motherhood
“A mother should be at home with the children”
‘New’ messages sent to girls about career-parenthood; ‘old’ messages being sent to boys
changes in male gender identity to accompany changes for women?
role of partners in successful women in IT
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

14. Socio-cultural Influences on Gender in the Global Information Economy
Culture
Technical women incompatible with gender identity?
Women still hold dual roles: work & home
Cultural attitudes about gender roles limit a woman’s opportunity for advancement
The purpose of employment is to provide security for family not personal fulfillment
a woman is not a serious employee
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

15. Socio-cultural Influences on Gender in the Global Information Economy
Size (and economic importance) of the information economy influences perceptions about women working in IT
Definition of “women’s work” and “men’s work” varies across nationalities
Software: OK in India, Ireland; not Australia
Engineering: OK in communist countries, US (now?); not Ireland, Australia
Economic necessity has contributed to social acceptability of women working
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

16. Socio-cultural Influences on Gender in the Global Information Economy
Infrastructure
IT training for working class women must go beyond IT skills to structural barriers of poverty, spatial isolation, illiteracy, sporadic work, and racial/ethnic discrimination that limit women’s ability to compete for jobs
Girls getting less exposure to IT
Access to the Internet
Transportation barriers
Language barriers
Financial barriers
Other barriers
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

17. Socio-cultural Influences on Gender in the Global Information Economy
Public Policy
The “information age” needs the best brains available
National information society policy
EU information society policy
Discrimination policies
Maternity policies
Policies of countries in which you work
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

18. Socio-cultural issues for gender in the Greek information economy
Is ICT use in Greece gendered?
If no, what is the evidence of this?
If yes, what types of use are considered ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’?”
Is the IT profession in Greece gendered?
If yes, what is the evidence?
If no, what is the evidence
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

19. Discrimination v. inclusion
Target v. agent
Intentional v. unintentional
Inclusion
Welcoming climate
Treatment of ‘other’
Active v. passive marginalization
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

20. Tolerating, managing & celebrating diversity
Tolerating: ‘accepting’ people who are different from you; non discrimination
Managing: ensuring inclusion in the presence of diversity
Celebrating: seeing value and positive effects from human differences
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

21. Athens University of Economics & Business
Managing Diversity
Corporate policy interventions
Mentoring
Diversity training
Diversity committees
Monitoring progress
Numbers
Diversity climate studies
Affirmative action, equal opportunity & anti-discrimination, “fair” vs. “unfair” discrimination
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business

22. Athens University of Economics & Business
Managing Diversity
Recourse
For targets of discrimination
Accountability
For ‘anti diversity’ behaviors
For achieving diversity goals
Global business
Not a choice
Degrees of experiential understanding
March 2008
Athens University of Economics & Business