Gender, Educational, and Occupational Digital Gaps 1983-2002

Abstract

Using representative national surveys, this study tracks education, occupation, and gender access and use of digital technology among adults between 1983 and 2002. Although greater parity has occurred, substantial divisions remain. For individuals who owned a home computer, gender, education, and labor force gaps in home Internet access had largely disappeared by 2002, although better educated males still most often used home e-mail. Male college graduates most often had work web access or email. Gender gaps in online time rose from 1995 to 2002; men and very well educated adults increased their hours the most. Occupational variables were critical: many gender differences in information technology (IT) access and use lessened when labor force participation or occupational type were controlled. Although disparities have diminished, digital gaps across gender and educational level and among those with different labor force experiences continue.