ONTSI study on the digital divide
The main conclusions of the ONTSI 2023 study on the digital gender gap , presented on the portal of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation and on Red.es, focus on different areas, which are the starting point that shows us the path to follow:
Internet use and age gap : It has been observed that 92.8% of Spanish women aged 16 to 74 use the Internet at least once a week, a figure slightly lower than that of men. However, among those over 75 years of age, the difference widens, with men being weekly Internet users in greater proportion than women.
Online activities: There are differences in Internet use by gender; women in Spain use the Internet more for health-related activities, while men use it more for leisure, such as games and music.
Education and employment in the ICT and STEM field : Women represent only kuwait mobile number example 17.8% of the employed population with STEM training in Spain. In addition, there is a notable inequality in the labour market, with only 19.4% of the total number of ICT specialists being women.
Cybersecurity awareness : Women are more aware of the risks of online sexual harassment and violence, with the majority of victims of online sexual crimes being women.
Initiatives and action plans: The Government is working on reducing the gender gap in digital skills through the National Digital Skills Plan and the Pact for Generation D (to which Femxa is a member ), with the aim that, by 2025, 80% of citizens will have basic digital skills. In addition, specific programs are being developed for SMEs and initiatives are being promoted to encourage the participation of women in the digital economy, such as the ENISA line of financing for Digital Entrepreneurs.
Actions to be implemented to reduce the digital gender gap
To improve the digital gender gap and equalize the labor market in technology companies in Spain, several key points can be considered based on the available studies and recommendations:
Promoting female participation in the ICT sector
Increasing the presence of women in the ICT sector is essential. Currently, only a small percentage of women occupy technical and specialized positions in Spain. More women should be encouraged to apply for job offers linked to the digital sector and their presence should be promoted in leadership and development roles within the industry.
Education and mentoring
Encouraging girls and young women to choose technological studies is crucial. Educational programmes such as STEM Talent Girl or initiatives such as MSchools can play an important role in this regard, fostering scientific and technological vocations through mentoring with professionals in the sector.
Female scientist with laptop working in robotics lab
Reducing gender bias in artificial intelligence and programming
Gender perspectives need to be integrated throughout the entire research, development and innovation system, as well as in training for the creation of technologies. This includes promoting transparency in artificial intelligence systems to avoid bias and discrimination.
Improvements in the work environment and company policies
Measures should be developed to reorient the career paths of women whose jobs are affected by digitalisation and automation. In addition, a work environment should be fostered that promotes equality and recognises the contributions of women on an equal basis with men.
Raising awareness and fighting cyberbullying
We must promote the creation of content that is not harmful to gender equality and raise awareness against cyberbullying or cybersexting. It is important to address these problems in order to create a safe digital environment for women.