1) The document discusses gender differences in the use of information and communication technologies (ICT). Historically, computer programming and gaming were seen as masculine activities.
2) The study found that ICT knowledge and skills promoted on websites were focused more on cultural uses than economic or civic uses. Websites also featured more occupations traditionally associated with masculinity.
3) The results suggest ICT is still gendered male and that narrowing the gender gap will require promoting ICT for all types of uses and showing women and men in a diversity of ICT-related roles.
10. The Gender Gap and
ICT
The computer, particularly its designing,
programming, and recreational/gaming aspects,
was initially gendered male (Kiesler, Sproull, &
Eccles, 1985; Turkle, 1988).
BBS
17. Results Uses of ICT
For both knowledge and skills, cultural
uses were the dominant use of ICT
promoted, followed by economic, and
then civic uses.
Cultural ICT Use Civic
Economic
Type of Chi-Square
content
Knowledge 91.4% (32) 77.1% (27) 54.3% (19) 13.58***
Skills 65.7% (23) 37.1% (13) 31.4% (11) 13.05***
18. Occupations
Table 5. Frequency of occupations on websites
Note. Chi-Square (9, N=35)=121.04, p<.001
19. ICT Knowledge and Skills
Table 6. Mean ranks of ICT knowledge and skills
Note. Chi-Square (5, N=35)=31.39, p<.001