The Technofuture is Female?: Women in Information Technology in the Czech Republic

Abstract

While gender is rarely considered a variable behind the digital divide in the developed world, previous studies from scholars such as Walterová and Zalisová and institutions such as the United Nations Development Programme have shown that in the Czech Republic, the widest digital divide has historically been between men and women. Although the digital divide along gender lines has narrowed substantially in recent years in terms of access to ICTs, it persists with respect to both skill level and participation in the information technology workforce. This paper explores the ways cultural norms, the transition to capitalism, and information policy in the Czech Republic have shaped the digital divide in the country and the impact these factors have had on women’s education and employment in information technology, as well as their usage of ICTs more broadly. This paper draws from both the existing literature and original interviews with Czech women to examine how these factors have come together to discourage women from pursuing an interest in information technology. The findings demonstrate that while cultural expectations of women, the rigid structure of the Czech education system, and the gender wage gap prevent many women from acquiring the higher skills needed to qualify for a job in the information technology sector, several organizations throughout the country are actively working to increase the presence of women in information technology with positive results.