Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Gender-Sensitive Information Society in Austria

Mag.a Birgit WeissDepartment of Gender and Diversity in Organizations

Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Internet usage in Europe

Access

„Im 2. Quartal 2003 war es für 59 % der Österreicher, die älter als 14 Jahre sind, "grundsätzlich möglich", auf das Internet zuzugreifen. 53 % der Österreicher sind Internet-User, dies entspricht etwa 3.590.000 Personen ab 14 Jahren“

agein %in 1.000USER

Source: http://medienforschung.orf.at

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

44% of Internet users in Austria are female

(42% of heavy users)

Source: http://medienforschung.orf.at

Austrian Internet Monitor (AIM),

2nd quarter, 2003

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Information Society in Austria:Gender-Sensitive ?

• In the first years of Internet in Austria, the digital gap (between men and women) was much bigger

• Many initiatives, Internet courses, special programs (AMS/labor market-related), etc. „to bring women in“

• Biggest advances for women: Internet at the workplaces (26 % of total access) and at home (50% of total access)

• Digital Divide: age, urban/rural spheres, jobs with/without access to the Internet, education

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Female Virtual Spaces in Austria:

• Feminist magazines on the web: e.g. Ceiberweiber, diestandard.at

• Mailinglists: e.g. FEMALE (in earlier days also municipia > now network milena)

• Networks: e.g. Webwomen.at, femity.at

• ARIADNE (national library)New Technologies still dominated by men

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Initiative:Workshop, 21st + 22nd of October, 2003• Workshop topic:

– Gender-Sensitive Information and Communication Society

• Sponsors: – Austrian Ministry of Economy and Work (bmwa)– Unesco Commission

• Method: – „Future Conference“ (envisioning our common future)

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Workshop Impact

• Participants:– 40 experts on gender and/or ICT (in Austria)

• Outcome:– Several project ideas:

• Network of participants• Expert database on research and technology• Conference on Life Quality and Quality of Technology• Sustainability and ICT• North-South project on the implementation of the

WSIS Action Plan

Gender-sensitive Information Society in AustriaMag.a Birgit Weiss, Gender and Diversity in Organizations, WU Vienna

Contact

Mag.a Birgit Weiss

Gender and Diversity in Organizations Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration

Augasse 21/1/7 A-1090 Vienna, AustriaPhone: ++43/1/31336-5185

E-mail: birgit.weiss@wu-wien.ac.atWWW: http://www.wu-wien.ac.at/inst/gender/