The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries
Empirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower technology participation rates than men; a result of entrenched socio-cultural attitudes about the role of women in society. However, as studies are beginning to show, when those women are able to engage with...
Main Authors: | , |
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פורמט: | Article |
שפה: | English |
יצא לאור: |
MDPI AG
2014-10-01
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סדרה: | Future Internet |
נושאים: | |
גישה מקוונת: | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/6/4/673 |
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author | Amy Antonio David Tuffley |
author_facet | Amy Antonio David Tuffley |
author_sort | Amy Antonio |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Empirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower technology participation rates than men; a result of entrenched socio-cultural attitudes about the role of women in society. However, as studies are beginning to show, when those women are able to engage with Internet technology, a wide range of personal, family and community benefits become possible. The key to these benefits is on-line education, the access to which sets up a positive feedback loop. This review gives an overview of the digital divide, before focusing specifically on the challenges women in developing countries face in accessing the Internet. Current gender disparities in Internet use will be outlined and the barriers that potentially hinder women’s access and participation in the online world will be considered. We will then look at the potential opportunities for women’s participation in a global digital society along with a consideration of current initiatives that have been developed to mitigate gender inequity in developing countries. We will also consider a promising avenue for future research. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:14:48Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-f4eaa9953afa4a7fa1043a3b42a5b51d |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1999-5903 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:14:48Z |
publishDate | 2014-10-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Future Internet |
spelling | doaj.art-f4eaa9953afa4a7fa1043a3b42a5b51d2022-12-22T00:21:57ZengMDPI AGFuture Internet1999-59032014-10-016467368710.3390/fi6040673fi6040673The Gender Digital Divide in Developing CountriesAmy Antonio0David Tuffley1Australian Digital Futures Institute, University of Southern Queensland, Education City, Sinnathamby Boulevard Springfield Central, Brisbane, QLD 4300, AustraliaSchool of Information and Communication Technology, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road Nathan, Brisbane, QLD 411, AustraliaEmpirical studies clearly show that women in the developing world have significantly lower technology participation rates than men; a result of entrenched socio-cultural attitudes about the role of women in society. However, as studies are beginning to show, when those women are able to engage with Internet technology, a wide range of personal, family and community benefits become possible. The key to these benefits is on-line education, the access to which sets up a positive feedback loop. This review gives an overview of the digital divide, before focusing specifically on the challenges women in developing countries face in accessing the Internet. Current gender disparities in Internet use will be outlined and the barriers that potentially hinder women’s access and participation in the online world will be considered. We will then look at the potential opportunities for women’s participation in a global digital society along with a consideration of current initiatives that have been developed to mitigate gender inequity in developing countries. We will also consider a promising avenue for future research.http://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/6/4/673gender digital dividedigital literacyeducationdeveloping countries |
spellingShingle | Amy Antonio David Tuffley The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries Future Internet gender digital divide digital literacy education developing countries |
title | The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries |
title_full | The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries |
title_fullStr | The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries |
title_full_unstemmed | The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries |
title_short | The Gender Digital Divide in Developing Countries |
title_sort | gender digital divide in developing countries |
topic | gender digital divide digital literacy education developing countries |
url | http://www.mdpi.com/1999-5903/6/4/673 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT amyantonio thegenderdigitaldivideindevelopingcountries AT davidtuffley thegenderdigitaldivideindevelopingcountries AT amyantonio genderdigitaldivideindevelopingcountries AT davidtuffley genderdigitaldivideindevelopingcountries |