Digital Activism Survey Report 2009

characterized by a special political apathy – the digital natives may develop new and special ways of digital
activism when they have reached the key force age.” We look forward to seeing future research on this
topic that will demonstrate through more rigorous sampling the effect of digital technology on propensity
for activism.
Gender Imbalances Hinge on Geography
Of the 121 respondents who gave their gender on the survey, 48 identify as female while 73 identify as
male, a 2:3 gender split in favor of men. Yet this global figure masks extreme regional variation. Of North
American respondents from the US and Canada, 28 are female and 27 are male - a near 1:1 split. In this
case, parity in digital activism mirrors parity in Internet access: according to Pew's 2005 "How Women and
Men Use the Internet" report, the US has near parity in Internet use between men and women.
Figure 2: The Gender Gaps
All Respondents North America Outside North America
(40% - 60%) (50% - 50%) (30% - 70%)
Outside of North America, the global gender balance was more skewed, with the divide breaking down to
20 female and 45 male, a 3:7 split in favor of men. Thus the parity in North America actually masks a
more drastic global imbalance. Does this gender imbalance in digital activism match Internet access rates
for men and women, as was the case in North America The sample is too small to say, unfortunately.
One important note is that the balance in Internet access does not appear to universally mirror Internet
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