The Digital Divide:The Digital Divide:Introduction and OverviewIntroduction and Overview

By Pat SamuelBy Pat SamuelWS 445/545: Women and WS 445/545: Women and

ComputersComputersFebruary 2005February 2005

(as updated March 2006)(as updated March 2006)

Digital Divide - DefinitionDigital Divide - Definition

Digital – computers, software, Internet, etc.Divide – gap

Digital Divide - the unequal opportunities to access and make use of computers and the Internet.

What is the extent of the Gap between males and females? between whites and people of color? between rich and poor? Does it matter? Why?

What might be done to overcome these inequalities?

Unequal Access by Race: Unequal Access by Race: Home Ownership of ComputersHome Ownership of Computers

WhiteHouseholds

African-American

HouseholdsMidwest Region 62% 34%West Region 61% 50%US 60% 38%

Home Ownership of PCs by Race (2000)

Source: Chakraborty & Bosman

Unequal Access – Boston 2003Unequal Access – Boston 2003

Source: The Boston Indicators Project 2004

Unequal Access - ChildrenUnequal Access - ChildrenChildren with

Computers in Home

75% 78%

51% 49%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Source: University of California at Santa Cruz

Children with Internet Access at Home

67% 70%

41% 38%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Unequal Access –Unequal Access –Home Ownership Of ComputersHome Ownership Of Computers

Home Ownership of PCs by Income Level (2000)

23%

33%

88%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Less than$15,000

$15,000 -24,999

More than$75,000

Source: Chakraborty & Bosman

Who Uses the Internet?Who Uses the Internet?

Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project

69%75% 73%

60%

79%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Women Men White Black Latino, EngSpeaking

- - - By Ethnicity - - - - - - By Sex - - -

Formal Numerical Equality OR Real Formal Numerical Equality OR Real Substantive Equality?Substantive Equality?

Almost all K-12 schools have computers Almost all K-12 schools have computers and Internet access.and Internet access.

But is it real equality if some schools But is it real equality if some schools have 1 computer per 50 students while have 1 computer per 50 students while other schools have 1 computer per 12 other schools have 1 computer per 12 students?students?

Is it real equal opportunity to learn about Is it real equal opportunity to learn about computers if most educational software computers if most educational software is based on shoot-em-up games which is based on shoot-em-up games which boys love and girls hate?boys love and girls hate?

Schools – The Racial DivideSchools – The Racial Divide

85% in schools 85% in schools with majority with majority white students white students

64% in 64% in schools where schools where students of students of color are the color are the majoritymajority

Per cent of Instructional Classrooms with Internet Access

Source: Gorski

Schools – Racial Divide Cont’dSchools – Racial Divide Cont’d

In schoolsIn schools where students of color are where students of color are the majority, the majority,

teachers are one-third less likely to teachers are one-third less likely to receive training and assistance in receive training and assistance in using computersusing computers than teachers in than teachers in predominantly white schools.predominantly white schools.

computers mostly used for rote drills – computers mostly used for rote drills – unlike predominantly white schools unlike predominantly white schools where analytical skills are emphasized.where analytical skills are emphasized.

Source: Gorski

Schools – Gender InequitiesSchools – Gender Inequities

Is educational software as likely to Is educational software as likely to inspire girls to use computers as inspire girls to use computers as much as it does boys?much as it does boys?

Demolition DivisionDemolition Division Slam Dunk MathSlam Dunk Math Word InvasionWord Invasion Space War MathSpace War Math

Educational Software and Educational Software and Institutional SexismInstitutional Sexism

Shoot-em-up educational software Shoot-em-up educational software produces high anxiety levels in girls – not produces high anxiety levels in girls – not conducive to learning !conducive to learning !

DemolitionDemolitionDivisionDivision

ArithmeticArithmeticClassroomClassroom

GirlsGirls 7777 1414

BoysBoys 5656 2828

Mean Stress Levels Reported When Learning Division

Source: Cooper & Weaver

Are Programming Skills Taught in a Are Programming Skills Taught in a Gender Neutral Fashion?Gender Neutral Fashion?

Two styles of programming:Two styles of programming: ““Formal” - Make overall plan with separate Formal” - Make overall plan with separate

modules, complete each module one by one.modules, complete each module one by one. ““Concrete” – Start with part that interests you, Concrete” – Start with part that interests you,

move back & forth between different aspects, move back & forth between different aspects, synthesizing as you go along.synthesizing as you go along.

Males tend to prefer the “Formal” Style.Males tend to prefer the “Formal” Style. Guess which Style taught as “correct”?Guess which Style taught as “correct”?

Source: Cooper & Weaver

Results of Androcentric NormsResults of Androcentric Norms

Women are onlyWomen are only

17% of students taking the Advanced 17% of students taking the Advanced Placement Computer Science test Placement Computer Science test

31% of students majoring in 31% of students majoring in computer science (1999) computer science (1999)

20% of IT (information technology) 20% of IT (information technology) professionals professionals

Source: Cooper & Weaver

ReferencesReferences The Boston Indicators Project 2004: "9.2.1 In-home access to

computers and the Internet" Copyright by Boston Foundation, 2005 Accessed 3-13-2006 at http://www.tbf.org/indicators2004/technology/indicators.asp

Chakraborty, Jayajit and M. Martin Bosman, “Race, Income, and Home PC Ownership: a Regional Analysis of the Digital Divide,” Race and Society, Vol. 5, Issue 2, (2002) Pp. 163-177. Available online via ScienceDirect.

Cooper, Joel and Kimberlee D. Weaver. Gender and Computers: Understanding the Digital Divide. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2003.

Gorski, Paul C. “Privilege and Repression in the Digital Era: Rethinking the Sociopolitics of the Digital Divide,” Race, Gender & Class, 10:1 (Oct. 2003). Available online via GenderWatch.

Pew Internet and American Life Project, “Demographics of Internet Users” (Dec. 2005 Data). Online at http://www.pewinternet.org/trends/User_Demo_12.05.05.htm

University of California at Santa Cruz, Press Release, "Kids with access to a home computer are more likely to graduate, digital divide study finds," Oct. 19, 2005. Accessed 3-13-2006 at http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/press_releases/text.asp?pid=767

Results of Androcentric NormsResults of Androcentric Norms

Women are onlyWomen are only

17% of students taking the Advanced 17% of students taking the Advanced Placement Computer Science test Placement Computer Science test

31% of students majoring in 31% of students majoring in computer science (1999) computer science (1999)

20% of IT (information technology) 20% of IT (information technology) professionalsprofessionals

Source: Cooper & Weaver

Experiment with color