For both women and men, being able to harness the potential of the digital transformation is a keystone of more sustainable and inclusive economies and societies. However, women are still lagging behind in their ability to access, use, and afford digital tools. They are also facing cultural barriers and stereotypes that affect their expectations and may lead them to choose career paths that are not necessarily those that the increasingly digitalised and interconnected world rewards. Early and systemic policy interventions, particularly in the education systems, but also those aimed at changing
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For both women and men, being able to harness the potential of the digital transformation is a keystone of more sustainable and inclusive economies and societies. However, women are still lagging behind in their ability to access, use, and afford digital tools. They are also facing cultural barriers and stereotypes that affect their expectations and may lead them to choose career paths that are not necessarily those that the increasingly digitalised and interconnected world rewards. Early and systemic policy interventions, particularly in the education systems, but also those aimed at changing cultural norms and tackling stereotypes, are crucial to address these gaps and avoid them being further accentuated as the digital transformation unfolds. This OECD report has been prepared at the request of the Chilean Government in the context of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Chile's 2019 Women, SMEs and Inclusive Growth Priority. It aims to strengthen the evidence base in support of APEC discussions on understanding and bridging the digital gender gap in APEC economies.
The report explores the root causes of the gender digital divide; the demands of the workforce for digital skills of women; the skills needed to succeed in the digital transformation and what this implies for women; and the role of education on building skills for the digital era and bridging the digital gender divide. The report further proposes an education-centered future-looking strategy which identifies existing evidence relevant to bridging the digital gender gap and outlines possible actions in support of policymaking aimed to narrow the digital gender divide in APEC economies. The report proposes a multifaceted approach and is articulated around the following key areas of analysis: (1) the digital gender divide in APEC economies: understanding the root causes; (2) skills for the digital era; (3) thriving in the digital era: the importance of education and curriculum design; and (4) main conclusions and policy implications.
Edited excerpts from publication.
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