Gender-differentiated impact on minority youth of basic computer education in Mumbai city

Abstract

Young people from marginalized communities are applying newly acquired technical know-how to leapfrog the socioeconomic levels of their families and communities. This article explores the impact of basic computer education on the lives of young men and women from a Muslim minority community of India. Twenty-seven young women and 25 young men (median age = 23 years) were interviewed 2 months after they completed a 1-year diploma course, and their reports were content analyzed. It was found that the basic skills program results in multiplier, psychological, social, educational, and economic benefits and also increases computer ownership and usage. Computer education of an individual contributes to a social climate conducive for family, friends, and neighbors to become computer literate and provides a valuable focus on computer literacy programs. Computer education can be a key gender equalizer, as through it women see new possibilities open for them. The psychological and economic impact is greater for young women; young men, on the other hand, register more social and educational benefits. Through application of computer knowledge, women experience a boost in self-confidence and see a possibility of an independent income. On the other hand, young men experience higher positive cues from family and friends. The pursuit of college along with computer learning and their stated aspiration to go in for high-end computer courses gives men a distinct advantage in a knowledge-based society.