ABSTRACT
In recent years, the number of people use Internet has grown considerably both in Spain and in Europe and the rest of the world. Looking at a few basic indicators of Internet use, disparities between men and women seem to have virtually closed. However, it is necessary to acquire a complex and gradual perspective to understand rigorously the phenomenon of access to digital technologies and the gender gap.
This research analyzes data from the Community Survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals (Eurostat) to know the evolution of the gender gap in (computer and Internet) digital skills between 2007 and 2011. The information covers a sample of 30 countries of the European continent.
The findings of this work show that the asymmetries between women and men at digital skills indeed are very light on the most basic and widespread ones. However, the gaps seem very significant in the more complex and specialized tasks. Gender gaps in this regard are detected in most European countries, including Spain, and especially in the computing skills. We have to highlight the fact that disparities are much more marked in countries with high levels of digital skills, such as the Nordic or Netherlands. Thus, we can conclude that the gender digital divide in this field is not clearly reduced if we adopt a complex and gradual perspective, contrary to what we may think if we only observe a small number of simple indicators.En los últimos años, el volumen de población usuaria de Internet ha aumentado considerablemente tanto en España como en Europa y el resto del mundo. Observando unos pocos indicadores básicos de uso de Internet parece que las disparidades entre hombres y mujeres se han cerrado prácticamente. Sin embargo, es necesario adquirir una perspectiva compleja y gradual para comprender rigurosamente el fenómeno del acceso a las tecnologías digitales y la brecha de género.
Esta investigación analiza la evolución entre 2007 y 2011 de la brecha de género en habilidades digitales (informáticas e internautas) a partir de los datos de Community Survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals (Eurostat). La información utilizada abarca una muestra de 30 países del continente europeo.
Los resultados señalan que las asimetrías entre mujeres y hombres en la posesión de habilidades digitales, efectivamente, son muy ligeras en las más básicas y generalizadas. Sin embargo, parecen muy significativas en las más complejas y especializadas. Las brechas de género en este aspecto se detectan en la mayoría de países europeos, entre ellos España, y especialmente en la tareas informáticas. Destaca el hecho de que las disparidades son bastante más marcadas en países con alto nivel de habilidades digitales, como son los nórdicos o Países Bajos.
De esta forma, se puede concluir que la brecha digital de género en este ámbito no se reduce claramente si adoptamos una perspectiva compleja y gradual, al contrario de lo que puede parecer si sólo observamos un pequeño número de indicadores reducido.ABSTRACT
In recent years, the number of people use Internet has grown considerably both in Spain and in Europe and the rest of the world. Looking at a few basic indicators of Internet use, disparities between men and women seem to have virtually closed. However, it is necessary to acquire a complex and gradual perspective to understand rigorously the phenomenon of access to digital technologies and the gender gap.
This research analyzes data from the Community Survey on ICT usage in households and by individuals (Eurostat) to know the evolution of the gender gap in (computer and Internet) digital skills between 2007 and 2011. The information covers a sample of 30 countries of the European continent.
The findings of this work show that the asymmetries between women and men at digital skills indeed are very light on the most basic and widespread ones. However, the gaps seem very significant in the more complex and specialized tasks. Gender gaps in this regard are detected in most European countries, including Spain, and especially in the computing skills. We have to highlight the fact that disparities are much more marked in countries with high levels of digital skills, such as the Nordic or Netherlands. Thus, we can conclude that the gender digital divide in this field is not clearly reduced if we adopt a complex and gradual perspective, contrary to what we may think if we only observe a small number of simple indicators.
 
