The Move Towards the Knowledge‐based Society: a Gender Approach

Abstract

There is more to the knowledge‐based society (KBS) than an increasing use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs). It involves a new production paradigm and, therefore, a redefinition of how our societies function. In the political debate a direct linear causality has been established between the move towards the KBS and social cohesion. We discuss this assumption using the concrete example of gender equality. There are three processes at the very core of the paradigmatic change in the production system: new forms of knowledge (demand for ICT skills, but also social competences), a transformation in the type of products in demand (tertiarization of the economy), and new modes of regulation (new forms of work organization and new types of work). We discuss the main conclusions of the prolific debate that has recently taken place concerning the gender impact of these processes and present a statistical analysis of the gender dimension of the KBS resulting from them. This analysis demonstrates that progress in gender equality is not balanced. While it is important when accessing employment, it is much more limited as far as pay and childcare are concerned. Making headway in one of these dimensions of gender equality is not necessarily associated with progress in others. Secondly, this analysis shows that there is not necessarily a direct connection between a high educational level and gender equality. Finally, it shows that the role played by institutional factors is very significant, although it varies depending on the equality dimension considered.