The Digital Gender Gap as a Risk Factor   of Social Safety of the Russian Society Cover Image

Цифровой гендерный разрыв как фактор риска социальной безопасности российского общества
The Digital Gender Gap as a Risk Factor of Social Safety of the Russian Society

Author(s): P. A. Kislyakova, E. A. Shmeleva
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Higher Education , Economic development, ICT Information and Communications Technologies
Published by: Ивановский государственный университет
Keywords: digital economy; gender gap; social security;

Summary/Abstract: The article is devoted to the analysis of the gender imbalance problem in the IT sphere in the conditions of development of digital economy in Russia. The article presents a selective analysis of the situation of women’s participation in the IT sphere: participation of students in IT-Olympiads; higher education in IT-specialties, employment opportunities and decent wages, career growth, professional recognition. The digital gender gap is analyzed as a risk factor for the social security of women and society as a whole. Objective and subjective threats of digital gender gap are considered: stagnation of digital economy in view of shortage of specialized personnel; decrease of profit of IT-companies; growth of social tension and deterioration of social well-being of women. The article presents the results of a study aimed at identifying students — future IT-specialists — gender features of professional motivation and ideas about their future careers, acting as indicators of their social security. The authors made use of the questionnaire “IT career” and methods of “satisfaction with the profession” (V. A. Yadov, modified by N. V. Kuzmina, A. A. Rean). Half of the respondents (men and women equally) revealed high expectations of employment and career in the IT sphere, which indicates their equal social security. The authors conclude that it is necessary to form the image of a woman professionally oriented in the digital economy and IT industry through the development and implementation of relevant social, educational and mentoring programs.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 14-25
  • Page Count: 12
  • Language: Russian