With the GenDiT project, the research group is analyzing how and under what conditions digitization affects gender inequality. The aim is to uncover and understand larger theoretical connections that exist between structural changes such as digitization and social inequality in education, choice of study, employment and pay. In particular, the role of organizations and institutions –for example, schools or companies– is examined.

In the focus area "Digitization and Gender Inequality in the Education System" located at the LIfBi, researchers particularly look into data provided by the National Educational Panel Study to investigate the question of how digital competencies develop throughout the school years.

Technological change and digitization are leading to significant changes in modern societies. The ever-advancing use of computers or the digital transformation of the industrial sector have the potential to reduce long-standing gender inequalities in the education system and the labor market. However, the movement towards gender equity in the labor market has considerably slowed down and surprisingly, it seems that digitization even contributes to gender inequality.

During the six-year funding period, specific research projects are planned in the thematic areas of "Digitization and gender inequality in the education system," "Gender inequality in access to digital jobs," and "Gender inequality and power relations in digital organizations."

GenDiT is an Emmy Noether junior research group headed by Prof. Dr. Malte Reichelt. Since his appointment June 01, 2023, to the junior professorship for Computational Social Science with a  focus on Social Dynamics, the Emmy Noether group is located at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg. At LIfBi, in particular the main topic "Digitization and gender Inequality in the education system" has since been continued as a GenDiT project.

For their analyses, the researchers draw on longitudinal data from the National Educational Panel Study (NEPS), administrative data from the Integrated Employment Biographies (IEB), and experimental data collection. The latter consists of computer-assisted text analysis of job vacancy ads from newspaper archives in order to trace the digital transformation in working life. Also planned are experimental surveys using a vignette design.
During the funding period, specific research projects are planned in the areas of "Digitization and Gender Inequality in the Education System," "Gender Inequality in Access to Digital Jobs," and "Gender Inequality and Power Relations in Digital Organizations."

• Funding period:  Jan 2023 – Dez 2028
• Funding: Emmy Noether Program of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
• Head and location of the Emmy Noether Group: Prof. Dr. Malte Reichelt, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
• Contact: gendit@lifbi.de
• Link to this page: www.lifbi.de/GenDit