Young people’s digital competences: does gender matter?

This research explores the intersections between gender and young people’s self-perceived digital competences. Previous research has identified differences between the self-perceived digital competences of girls and boys, but this paper further explores these differences comparing the ratings of ICT related curricular units with the self-perceived digital competences. A case study in one basic education school of Setúbal, Portugal, analyzed by gender the ratings to the ICT related curricular units, and the results of a digital competences self-assessment online questionnaire. The ICT related curricular units’ ratings showed that girls and boys have similar results, however the digital competences self-assessment online questionnaire identifies a lower self-perceived digital competence of girls, and decreasing as they get older. This understanding of how girls’ self-perceived digital competences vary with age is an important information to organize educational actions to reinforce girls’ self confidence in their digital competences and promote gender equality in technology-related professions.