Gender in the Global Information Economy

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 etrauth@ist.psu.edu

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) Athens University of Economics & Business

3. 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 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 Athens University of Economics & Business 4

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

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

8. 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 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 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 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 Athens University of Economics & Business

12. Reality of Diversity: Globalization of ITSector • 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 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 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 Athens University of Economics & Business

15. Socio-cultural Influences on Gender in the Global Information Economy • 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 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 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 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 Athens University of Economics & Business

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

21. 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 Athens University of Economics & Business

22. 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 Athens University of Economics & Business