Gender digital divide – examining the reality

Abstract

In this age of digital revolution, one of the most significant inequalities that prevail across all social and economic groups is the gender divide. The limitation, obstacle and challenges faced by the women across the globe prevent them to access and use the information technology. There is an under-representation of women in the decision-making structures in the digital information society, where they are considered as technophobic, wherein the plans and policies were gender-sensitive. The constraining elements in relation to women’s usage of technology lie in the socio-economic and cultural barriers laid down by society. Gender bias-ness exists in the attitude of using information technology. The cultural norms forbid women’s interaction with the outside society which restricts them from the usage of ICT. In addition, the disparity in the education and income sectors, social class and geographic locations cast a shadow in the usage of the ICT. But a contradictory situation exists in the present postmodern society, where women are gaining education and income opportunity, where ICT as a digital tool has enabled them to overcome this long-lasting inequality, contribute in the community building and decision-making process. It has provided them with the freedom of interaction and shares their opinions and gathers information across the information society. But the United Nation World Summit on the Information Society (2003-2005, 2017) highlighted that gender digital divide still persist in the society. Like so, the question remains whether the gender digital divide is hype or reality? So, this paper will try to examine the gender divide existing in this digital information society.