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Towards Understanding the Gender Digital Divide: A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to address the gender digital divide through the adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs) by reviewing existing knowledge within the field. This paper explores the characteristics and factors contributing to the gender digital divide. To bridge the gender digital divide, it is important to understand the factors behind gender differences in ICT access and use.
Design/methodology/approach: In this study, the systematic literature review was conducted in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach. In total, 24 articles were selected and analysed with using PRISMA steps.
Findings: Despite a significant increase in usage of the internet and other ICTs around the world, women, especially in developing countries, tend to be on the wrong side of the digital divide. The results indicate that while there are still gender differences in access to ICT in developing countries, second-level digital divide issues are more of a concern in developed countries. In the literature, several important factors have been identified as being associated with the gender digital divide. The results highlight the importance of implementable policies to bridge the gender digital divide, as well as how sociocultural factors play an important role in explaining the gender digital divide phenomenon.
Originality/value: By identifying the gender digital divide studies’ characteristics and factors contributing to the gender digital divide, the authors provide an overview of the existing research, allowing us to discuss future research needs within the field. The authors argue that more research is needed to understand how to better address the sociocultural factors affecting the gender digital divide, to understand why equal access seems not to result in equal use and, to understand the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the gender digital divide.
... Policies to improve access to mobile phone technology among females have the potential to be particularly effective at improving economic welfare in contexts where gender disparities lead to wide gaps in gains from mobile phone use between males and females (Hossain and Beresford 2012;Khatun et al. 2017;Owusu et al. 2017;Raihan et al. 2021;Acilar and Saebø 2023;Reynolds et al. 2023). Potential benefits from, and barriers to, realising benefits from mobile phone ownership among females are widely discussed, yet few studies provide quantitative evidence. ...
... These findings align with and support the proposition by Rajkhowa and Qaim (2022) that mobile technology can serve as a link connecting women to production and market information. This finding, together with the supportive conclusions of prior research (Ma et al. 2018;Owusu et al. 2017;Sekabira and Qaim 2017a) and evidence of a continued gender divide in IT access (Acilar and Saebø 2023;Reynolds et al. 2023), all suggest that policies supporting the digital inclusion of females can support improved smallholder production outcomes in regions such as rural Bangladesh. Therefore, such policies should be prioritised in efforts to assist smallholder households in LMICs (Abraham 2018;Koh et al. 2018;Owusu et al. 2017). ...
... Complementary policies aimed at facilitating and incentivising female IT access can improve agricultural production and income outcomes, and thus warrant further investigation. Policies designed to address barriers to female IT access, such as IT illiteracy, socio-economic status, education level, cultural norms and gender stereotypes, can bridge the gender gap and promote equitable IT access (Acilar and Saebø 2023). To achieve digital inclusion for females, it is important to complement technology policies that provide access to IT infrastructure and resources with supportive policies such as prioritising equal access to education and IT training for all genders, promoting gender mainstreaming policies to address disparities and stereotypes, conducting public awareness campaigns to foster inclusive and equitable values and implementing affirmative action policies that prioritise marginalised groups, including female-headed households. ...
Information technology (IT) including mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, watches and an expanding range of supporting technologies, is now embedded as a significant driver of innovation and economic growth. Despite extensive literature on barriers and enablers of female access and benefit, few studies provide quantitative evidence on how more female versus male IT access benefits smallholder households in developing countries. This study contributes to the empirical evidence by assessing how mobile phone ownership, particularly in female‐headed households, influenced agricultural yield and profit for smallholder farmers in Bangladesh, using the 2012 and 2015 national farm household survey and spatial climate data. Our empirical approach addresses the challenges posed by spatially clustered data in systematically stratified survey samples, potential endogeneity and self‐selection bias. We employ multilevel mixed‐effects generalised linear regression models and incorporate household fixed‐effects specifications to control for these issues and provide a more robust analysis of the relationship between mobile phone ownership and agricultural outcomes. Based on four out of six of our most robust estimates, we found that mobile phone ownership is associated with significant increases in both yield (4.1%–8.3%) and farm profit (25.4%–32.3%) for female‐headed households. Our conclusions highlight the potential for female digital inclusion to enhance smallholder profitability and yields in Bangladesh and other rural, agrarian economies with low‐ to middle‐income levels.
JEL Classification: J16, O13, Q16
... In general, women are considered to be less frequent and less intensive users of technology than their male counterparts (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Celik, 2016;Sharma & Srivastava, 2020;Venkatesh et al., 2003). ...
... Cooper (2006) suggests three factors: (1) parents and teachers impose gender expectations and differential exposure to certain activities that influence the development of men and women; (2) social stereotypes shape behaviors; and (3) the differences are due to the different ways in which men and women attribute their successes and failures: women tend to attribute their failures to internal causes, i.e., they blame themselves for the problems they may have when using technological tools. As a result, women are more likely to experience anxiety when using certain technologies that are often considered masculine (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Cooper, 2006;Selwyn, 2007). ...
... The literature has focused on improving institutional policies to reduce the digital gender gap. These policies should focus on the development of women's digital knowledge and skills and technological competences (Acilar & Saebø, 2023). Educational institutions should provide teachers with the necessary skills to create, adapt and use information and communication technologies, especially those based on generative AI. ...
The emergence of ChatGPT and other AI-based tools has revolutionized the professional and educational world. This paper aims to analyze the factors that may lead university teachers to consider adopting ChatGPT in their work. This study examines how some relevant Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model variables (effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and performance expectancy), technology-related anxiety and gender influence teachers’ intentions to use ChatGPT. A questionnaire was developed and sent to professors at Spanish public universities, resulting in a sample of 249 valid responses. The results indicate that performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, anxiety related to student learning and gender are the main determinants of the intention to use ChatGPT by teachers. After conducting an exploratory analysis segmented by gender, it was found that men and women analyze the possibility of adopting ChatGPT through different variables. For male teachers, performance expectancy and facilitating conditions are the variables that affect the intention to use ChatGPT. In contrast, female teachers’ intention is influenced by anxiety related to student learning and anxiety related to technology use, in addition to performance expectancy and facilitating conditions. Therefore, these results suggest that it is crucial to consider individual perceptions, gender as well as contextual factors when promoting the adoption of tools such as ChatGPT among university teachers. Educational institutions should provide teachers with the skills needed to create, adapt and use information and communication technologies, especially those based on generative AI. This training should adopt new strategies that take gender differences into account.
... Previous studies have primarily focused on identifying factors associated with digital literacy levels among older adults, treating this population as uniform. These studies revealed that not only sociodemographic factors-such as gender [17], age [18,19], living arrangement [8], education level [18], and region [8,19]-but also health-related factors, including cognitive functioning [20], physical limitations [21], and depressive symptoms [22], as well as social factors, such as social support [23] and social participation [24], are linked to digital literacy. However, this method may overlook the varied expressions of digital literacy within the older adult population. ...
... On the basis of previous studies [8,[17][18][19], several sociodemographic factors were identified as influencing the digital literacy of older adults. These factors included age, sex, educational level, living arrangements, region, and economic activities. ...
... Notably, our findings highlight the presence of a digital divide among community-dwelling older adults in South Korea, emphasizing the need for tailored strategies to address this issue. Consistent with prior research [9,17,49,50], older adults who were female, of greater age, and had lower educational levels were more likely to exhibit low digital literacy. This suggests that despite high smartphone usage among older adults in countries like South Korea [51], a significant digital divide can still exist within this demographic. ...
Background
The digital divide is apparent not only between older and younger generations but also within the older adult population itself. Identifying digital literacy profiles among older adults is crucial for developing targeted strategies to narrow this divide.
Objective
This study aimed to identify profiles of digital literacy among community-dwelling older adults and to examine factors associated with these profiles.
Methods
Data were collected from community-dwelling older adults in South Korea through a nationwide cross-sectional survey that assessed digital literacy and related factors. Digital literacy was evaluated across 3 domains: information and communication (9 items), content creation and management (4 items), and safety and security (9 items). Latent profile analysis was used to identify profiles of digital literacy among community-dwelling older adults, and multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors of profile membership.
Results
A total of 1016 older adults completed structured questionnaires (average age 68, SD 6.5 years; 486/1016, 47.8% men). Three digital literacy profiles were identified (P<.001): “low level” (346/1016, 34.1%), “middle level” (374/1016, 36.8%), and “high level” (296/1016, 29.1%). With the “middle-level” digital literacy group as the reference group, older adult participants (odds ratio [OR] 1.11, 95% CI 1.07-1.15) with less than a middle school education (vs with a college degree or higher; OR 7.22, 95% CI 2.31-22.54), who needed help with one of the 10 instrumental daily activities (vs ≥2 activities; OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.11-8.40) and who did not engage in in-person social activities (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07-3.07), were more likely to be in the “low-level” group. Women were less likely to be in the “high-level” digital literacy group than men (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.25-0.80). Participants with less than a college education were also less likely to be in the “high-level” group, with those having less than a middle school education showing the lowest OR (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.07-0.41). Those who had never worked (OR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.90) and those not engaging in regular physical exercise (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40-0.84) were also less likely to be in the “high-level” digital literacy group. Participants with greater social support were more likely to be in the “high-level” digital literacy group (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.22-2.37).
Conclusions
These findings underscore the characteristics linked to lower digital literacy and suggest a tailored approach to meet the needs of diverse groups of older adults in a digitalizing society. To promote digital literacy among older adults, potential strategies include improving access to and guidance for using digital devices, specifically designed for this demographic, as well as promoting social support and encouraging participation in social activities.
... The digital divide can take many forms and be described in terms of gender, ethnicity, region, skills, and income (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). Surveys indicate that one of the most significant gender issues is related to ICT access and use (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). ...
... The digital divide can take many forms and be described in terms of gender, ethnicity, region, skills, and income (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). Surveys indicate that one of the most significant gender issues is related to ICT access and use (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). The gender digital divide refers to the unequal level of access, opportunities, use, and development of ICT skills between genders (Gurung, 2018). ...
... Moreover, in 2022, in the EU only one in five ICT specialists and ICT graduates were women (European Commission, 2022). The determinants of the gender digital divide range from gender inequality regarding the access to resources and opportunities, to cultural expectations and gender roles, and to institutional inefficiencies when it comes to reducing inequalities (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). If technology, and innovation in general, are socially exclusive, it can increase existing socioeconomic inequalities (Fragkandreas, 2022;Cheng et al., 2019;Juhn et al., 2014;Acemoglu and Autor, 2011). ...
Information and communications technology (ICT) can boost existing socio-economic inequalities if the former is socially exclusive. Long-standing barriers prevent minoritized populations from accessing ICT, thus leading to a vicious circle between digital divide and poor development. The digital divide can be most important when assessing United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals No. 4 (lifelong learning opportunities), No. 5 (empowerment), No. 8 (growth), and No. 10 (reduced inequalities). The current study presents the outcomes of a business apps training intervention, targeting immigrant entrepreneurs running small firms in Greece, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom. Multifaceted gender digital divides were unravelled, and training was found to improve entrepreneurs’ internet/digital skills and firms’ digital competencies, whilst also boosting empowerment and reducing gender digital disparities. Given the positive contribution of immigrant firms to countries’ growth, ways to facilitate sustainable performances through digital skills training merit consideration. Further, improving immigrant female entrepreneurs’ digital skills requires intersectional approaches that address a vector of socio-economic and cultural barriers, ensuring that ICT-driven sustainable development is much more inclusive.
... During the COVID-19 pandemic, unprecedented containment measures curtailed in-person interactions with non-household members, which precipitated widespread working from home and fueled ICT uptake for family communication (Fan & Moen, 2023;Galanti et al., 2021;Hu & Qian, 2021;MacLeavy, 2021;Yavorsky et al., 2021). ICT use also hinges on broader, country-specific contexts of digitalization, such as the diffusion and intensifying use of the internet and digital tools (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Gubernskaya & Treas, 2016). In this study, applying the multilevel framework of the digitalization of family life (Qian & Hu, 2024), we adopt a cross-national approach to examining how key individual-and country-level factors underpinning digitalization configure the gendered pattern of work-family digital communication. ...
... Conceptualizing digital communication as a form of labor invites consideration of gender differences in the performance and division of such labor (Gregg & Andrijasevic, 2019). Given persistent gender segregation in both market and household labor, digital communication in work and family lives is likely imbued with gendered meanings (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Peng, 2022). Therefore, gendered sociocultural norms surrounding work and domesticity may give rise to gendered patterns of digital communication across different life domains. ...
... Research on the gender digital divide suggests that women may be more likely than men to have a low level of digital technology use (Acilar & Saebø, 2023). In contexts where digital access is considered a scarce, privileged resource, such resource is often prioritized for men over women (Acilar & Saebø, 2023). ...
With rapid digitalization, people increasingly use information and communication technologies (ICTs). Analyzing European Social Survey data across 29 countries, we address an under-researched question: how is the labor of using ICTs for digital communication gendered across the domains of work and family? Using latent profile analysis, we identify five profiles of work-family digital communication – dual-medium (most prevalent), dual-low, high work-only, dual-high, and high family-only (least prevalent) – with notable gender differences. Women are less likely than men to have high work-only but are more likely to have high family-only and dual-high work-family digital communication. Multilevel models reveal that among those with better digital literacy and those who work from home more often, there are wider gender gaps whereby women are more likely than men to juggle dual-medium work-family digital communication. In countries where people use the internet more intensely, women are more likely than men to specialize in family-only and juggle dual-high work-family digital communication. As digital literacy, working from home, and internet use intensity increase further, women may disproportionately take on family-related digital communication and also suffer from a ‘digital double burden’ in work-family life. Our findings highlight new forms of gender inequality in the division of labor in the digital era.
... These disparities concerned the motivational rather than physical access to technology in the context of teaching and learning. Our evidence points to an area, in which policymaking, teacher education, and professional development could help to reduce digital gender divides by strengthening and fostering female teachers' self-beliefs, especially in TK (see also Acilar & Saebø, 2023;van Dijk, 2020). ...
... We also found moderator effects on TPACK self-efficacy by teachers' educational level of teaching, with early childhood teacher samples showing no effect, while primary and secondary teachers showing significant effects in favor of men. This finding could be interpreted as an effect of different mastery experiences within professional development opportunities, different curricular demands, or different teaching practices across educational levels-an effect pointing to the context-specificity of digital gender divides (Acilar & Saebø, 2023). However, this finding must be interpreted with caution, because only two primary studies covered early childhood education. ...
This large-scale meta-analytic review investigates gender disparities in pre- and in-service K-12 teachers’ Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) self-efficacy and performance. Synthesizing 915 effect sizes from 102 primary studies and 420 teacher samples (N = 681,745 teachers) in 70 countries via multilevel meta-analyses, we found small but significant gender differences favoring male teachers in TPACK self-efficacy (d ̅ = -0.17), particularly in technological knowledge (d ̅ = -0.31) and technological pedagogical knowledge (d ̅ = -0.14). However, no significant gender disparities were observed in TPACK performance (d ̅ = -0.08). Our findings revealed considerable heterogeneity in these effects across samples, studies, countries, measures, and over time, which could be partly explained by factors such as educational level, country-level gender inequality, and economic development. These results challenge the assumption of male teachers’ advantage in all aspects of technology-related teaching competencies. Our meta-analytic review further implies that gender disparities in TPACK are not fully generalizable and stable across contexts or over time.
... Since women are part of every field these days, their access to ICT and digital competence matters a lot not only for the women individually but for the fields themselves. However, women in many societies encounter socio-economic barriers such as lower income, limited education, and unequal opportunities, which inhibit their access to digital devices and internet connectivity (Acilar and Saebø, 2023;Ehrke, 2017). An ex-post-facto study, conducted with the student participants at the university level in Spain, found that female students scored lower than male students in technology knowledge and use (Casillas et al., 2017). ...
... Antonio and Tuffley (2014) argue that women in developing countries have significantly lesser technology participation than men's participation. Deep-rooted cultural norms often restrict women's access to ICT, reinforcing stereotypes that discourage them from engaging in technology-related fields or activities (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). Women's lesser technology participation prevents them to better education and economic opportunities, allowing them to access online job markets, freelancing platforms, and entrepreneurship. ...
... According to Abou-Shouk (2013), the tourism industry has become the largest category of products and services sold through the Internet; tourism service providers must be equipped with digital capabilities to offer better tourism products and create enjoyable tourism experiences (Tankovic, 2023). For this reason, achieving proper integration of technology is a must in today's digital age, and women's participation in this process as decision-makers is not only important but essential (Acilar, 2023). ...
... Achieving proper integration of technology is imperative in today's digital age. Women's participation as decision-makers in this process is important and essential, as highlighted by Acilar (2023); as well as the importance of implementable policies to bridge the gender digital divide. ...
This research examines the role that digital competence and the use of social networking sites (SNS) play in the workplace, focusing on female executives in the tourism sector. It analyzes the intersection between digital culture, technological innovation and its application in professional and everyday contexts. Despite the predominance of women in the sector, persistent gender gaps are observed in the workplace. It is argued that the domain of digital skills can act as a catalyst to mitigate these inequalities. The article offers an enriched definition of digital competence and examines its impact on job performance while addressing the risks and guidelines associated with the use of socio-digital networks. An analytical model is proposed to assess the job performance of female executives in tourism, focusing on digital technology and knowledge transfer. The results indicate a positive correlation between the versatile use of socio-digital networks and job performance. The importance of digital competence in the contemporary era is highlighted, and its implications for organizational culture, job satisfaction, academic performance and employee retention are discussed.
... Despite their commitment to making digital transitions fairer and more inclusive, peoplecentred smart cities are also being scrutinised because of their unclear impacts on marginalised communities (Caragliu & Del Bo, 2022;Lauri, 2021). Scholars have long been discussing how digital technologies can generate new inequalities in the forms of digital divides between gender, age or ethnic groups, or across neighbourhoods and regions (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Gerli & Whalley, 2021;Kolotouchkina et al., 2022). Many researchers have also highlighted that automated technologies may reinforce discriminations against marginalised communities (Basukie et al., 2020;Lim & Taeihagh, 2019). ...
... The access divide effectively reflects and reinforces spatial inequalities between rural and urban areas (Gerli & Whalley, 2021), affluent and deprived neighbourhoods (Reddick et al., 2020) and across regions (Vicente & López, 2011). The usage and outcome divides are, instead, associated with socio-economic inequalities typically observed between different genders (Acilar & Saebø, 2023), age groups (Neves et al., 2018), and ethnicities (Walker et al., 2020). ...
This exploratory paper contributes to the growing debate on inequalities in smart places by investigating how inequalities are conceptualised and assessed in the context of two middle-sized cities in Italy and Scotland, which have been implementing smart city initiatives for the past 10 years. The analysis shows that inequalities are mostly associated with and treated as inequities in the access and usage to ICT, with little consideration to potential biases in the design of smart technologies and other inequalities that smart places may generate. Furthermore, in both cities the data showed the lack of systematic and comprehensive processes and methods to assess the impact that smart city initiatives may have on marginalised communities. Drawing upon these findings, the paper outlines a set of recommendations for researchers and policymakers, which emphasise the need for an intersectional and interdisciplinary approach to fully grasp how socioeconomic , spatial and digital inequalities interact with each other and are affected by ongoing digital transformation processes.
... These are large and long-term processes requiring many years of building resources and related infrastructure. In this context, ethical issues gain importance, given the complexity and wide range of questions and activities involved in building digital libraries [21,22]. ...
Libraries have long served as custodians of knowledge, offering access to literature and preserving cultural heritage. The rapid advancement of digital technology has transformed library services, making information more accessible and expanding the role of libraries beyond physical spaces. This paper examines the evolution of libraries from historical institutions to modern digital knowledge hubs. It examines the impact of technology on library services, including digital preservation, user experience, and ethical considerations. The paper also discusses the future of libraries in a rapidly digitalizing world, highlighting their role in promoting accessibility, community engagement, and sustainable development. By analyzing global perspectives and emerging trends, this study provides insights into the challenges and opportunities that libraries face in the digital era. INTRODUCTION The role of information and libraries is vital for locating literature and preserving national heritage for the public. Libraries have long been recognized for their importance in saving written works. The recent addition of the Internet has enhanced access to information, impacting library development by allowing remote resource access. Libraries provide a mix of printed and electronic materials, aiming for a comprehensive global information source. They serve as organized collections of diverse resources, supporting various information needs, including reading, borrowing, interlibrary loans, and Internet services. Despite some criticisms about their limitations, libraries aim to offer broad information access, operating daily to accommodate different literature like fiction, science, and periodicals. Client feedback is essential for management, who address concerns and prioritize professional development. Librarians ensure timely and fair services while adhering to public policies and keeping collections organized. Expanding collections in various languages and providing flexible services can enhance competitiveness. Carefully maintained systematic collections improve user experiences, while operational efficiency demonstrates libraries' significance. Protecting materials from pests is essential, and educating users about resource access is crucial. Utilizing libraries effectively can contribute greatly to public development [1, 2]. Historical Context of Libraries Throughout history and across continents, libraries have undergone drastic changes in organization, management structure, and the availability of materials for patrons. The earliest libraries were private, catered to the most powerful, and emphasized safeguarding religious texts. Following the invention of the printing press, for-profit companies and private collectors joined monastic libraries in making tradable literature accessible after protecting personal interests. Widespread literacy and the need to aid research pushed toward the creation of public, free, and general libraries mirroring the environmental concept seen today. Organizational changes during these shifts heavily depended on the socio-political climate and the available resources of a given population center, giving rise to considerable diversity in the overall management and organization of libraries. Books need protecting, an obvious challenge for personal
... Existing research sometimes lacks a genderspecific lens or fails to consider the sociocultural elements influencing women's experiences with digital health technologies (Acilar and Saebø 2021). This study aims to fill this gap by investigating mHealth adoption from the eyes of Nigerian women, considering their unique sociocultural conditions. ...
This study appraises the awareness and usage patterns of mobile health (mHealth) applications among Nigerian women. Six Nigerian women from different locations participated in the focus group discussion (FGD), in which purposive sampling was used to get informed consent and record the participants' responses for analysis. The results showed different levels of awareness about mHealth, emphasising the need for more education to improve acceptance and understanding. Personalised medical counselling, better menstrual cycle management, and the promotion of general well-being were among the main benefits of mHealth. On the other hand, difficulties with device accessibility, connectivity, and possible over-dependency were mentioned. The study concluded that mHealth positively impacts women's health decisions and practices, emphasising the need for inclusive design, equitable access, and integrated care approaches to optimise mHealth implementation. These results emphasise the importance of focused efforts to address gaps and improve healthcare outcomes for Nigerian women through mHealth technologies.
... Firstly, the UTAUT-2 explicitly defines in its base model age and gender and prior experience as variables that affect technology acceptance [25]. Ample research has shown that older people [31] and women [32] tend to have lower access to and acceptance of technologies [33]. Research also shows that individuals who do already have access to some technologies are more likely to continue using them and become more proficient [34,35], and that such experience is cumulative: accepting one technology positively affects performance and effort expectancies about novel technological innovations [36]. ...
A major challenge of our time is reducing disparities in access to and effective use of digital technologies, with recent discussions highlighting the role of AI in exacerbating the digital divide. We examine user characteristics that predict usage of the AI-powered conversational agent ChatGPT. We combine behavioral and survey data in a web tracked sample of N = 1376 German citizens to investigate differences in ChatGPT activity (usage, visits, and adoption) during the first 11 months from the launch of the service (November 30, 2022). Guided by a model of technology acceptance (UTAUT-2), we examine the role of socio-demographics commonly associated with the digital divide in ChatGPT activity and explore further socio-political attributes identified via stability selection in Lasso regressions. We confirm that lower age and higher education affect ChatGPT usage, but do not find that gender or income do. We find full-time employment and more children to be barriers to ChatGPT activity. Using a variety of social media was positively associated with ChatGPT activity. In terms of political variables, political knowledge and political self-efficacy as well as some political behaviors such as voting, debating political issues online and offline and political action online were all associated with ChatGPT activity, with online political debating and political self-efficacy negatively so. Finally, need for cognition and communication skills such as writing, attending meetings, or giving presentations, were also associated with ChatGPT engagement, though chairing/organizing meetings was negatively associated. Our research informs efforts to address digital disparities and promote digital literacy among underserved populations by presenting implications, recommendations, and discussions on ethical and social issues of our findings.
... Bias awareness is a critical component in examining the role of media literacy in promoting gender equality practices, as it involves understanding and identifying stereotypes, prejudices, and unequal representations perpetuated through various media forms. Developing awareness of biases equips individuals with the ability to critically analyze content and recognize the subtle or overt gender imbalances often embedded in advertisements, news, films, and social media platforms (Acilar & Saebo, 2023). This awareness fosters a more informed and reflective media consumption habit, enabling audiences to challenge and question narratives that reinforce patriarchal norms or marginalize certain genders. ...
Overview: This study explored how media literacy programs can contribute to shifting societal attitudes towards gender equality, focusing on the effectiveness of media education in shaping the views of both men and women in Lusaka. Body of Knowledge: The study examined the extent to which media literacy programs empower individuals, particularly youth, to challenge discriminatory narratives and advocate for equitable practices. It also assessed the effectiveness of integrating media literacy into educational curricula and community initiatives in fostering a culture of inclusivity and respect for gender diversity. Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative and quantitative research designs to gain a comprehensive understanding of how media literacy influences gender equality practices. A combination of purposive and stratified random sampling was used to select the participants as well as institutions. The sample consisted 200 respondents; Media consumers, Media practitioners, Advocacy groups as well as Educators and students. Structured open-ended interviews, focus groups and questionnaires were used to respondents to collect data. The quantitative data were analyzed using appropriate statistical methods, such as descriptive statistics using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) and Microsoft excel whereas the qualitative data were analyzed thematically by coding them to categorize responses into themes. Results: The findings revealed that Media literacy plays a pivotal role in fostering gender equality practices by equipping individuals with the ability to critically analyze and interpret media content. Additionally, the study found that media literacy also supports civic engagement by encouraging individuals to use media as a platform to advocate for gender equality. Recommendation: Government through local leaders should launch community campaigns using various media platforms to raise awareness about gender equality practices and the role of media in shaping perceptions, ensuring active participation from local influencers, civic leaders, and advocacy groups.
... It is significant to note the wide gender gap in mobile and internet use in india whereby 41% of the women use neither mobile or internet. The men are approximately twice as likely to be using mobile internet services (53%) as compared to women (28%) (Ramsetty & Adams, 2020;Acilar & Saebø, 2021;Mathrani, Sarvesh & Mathrani, 2020;Mathrani, Sarvesh & Umer, 2021;Waghmare, 2024). ...
In India, digital media has emerged as a powerful alternative to the corporatized mainstream mass media, which often neglects the concerns of marginalized groups. Digital platforms have become crucial in providing these communities with a space to express their struggles, voice concerns, and challenge the narratives presented by mainstream media. Among these groups, Dalits, women, tribals, religious minorities, farmers, laborers, and the LGBTQ+ community are frequently underrepresented in traditional media. This is where alternative media plays a critical role in giving voice to these marginalized sections. According to Downing (2001), alternative media diverges from established forms in terms of content, production, and distribution. This research paper will explore how digital media platforms are used by marginalized groups, focusing specifically on National Dastak, a popular YouTube channel with nearly 1 crore (10 million) subscribers, and investigate how it represents marginalized voices.
... According to [87] , the digital divide not only affects access to information and communication technologies but also exacerbates existing social and economic inequalities and as technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and cognitive enhancement become more advanced, there is a risk that only the wealthiest and most privileged individuals will have access to these tools. This could create a new form of inequality, where those with access to enhanced cognitive abilities and digital resources are able to dominate those without, leading to a further concentration of power and privilege [88] . This further raises ethical questions about the distribution of technological benefits. ...
This study explores the influence of technology on human consciousness by examining how technological advancements shape cognitive processes, identity formation, and social consciousness. The study analyzes key philosophical frameworks like the Extended Mind theory and transhumanism on how to understand technology to acts as both an enabler and a potential threat to human critical thinking. It seeks to address the transformation of identity in the digital age, in a society where virtual representations and algorithmic influence challenge traditional notions of human. Furthermore, the study looks into the impact of technology on social consciousness, which includes the creation of global networks of collective awareness and the risks of digital echo chambers and social polarization. The study concludes by reflecting on the future path of human consciousness in a world that is increasingly shaped by machines, posing fundamental questions about the preservation of human dignity, and free will in the face of technological progression.
... Over the past decade, there has been a growing trend towards digitalizing every aspect of daily life (Nuechterlein & Shelanski, 2021;Quan-Haase et al., 2017;van Boekel et al., 2017). In this context, sociodemographic and socioeconomic inequalities in internet use have gained greater prominence on political agendas (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Aissaoui, 2022;Lee, 2022). However, as discussed in previous research (Helsper & Reisdorf, 2016;Hunsaker & Hargittai, 2018), most studies on internet (non-)use in older people do not allow to reveal whether inequalities in internet use become less pronounced or are enhanced over time. ...
Although research already examined sociodemographic profiles of older internet (non-)users, it is unknown how combinations of sociodemographic factors relate to internet (non-)use. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the cumulative impact of sociodemographic characteristics on internet (non-)use among people aged 60 and older between 2004 and 2021, using representative survey data derived from the Belgian Ageing Studies (n = 61 376). Logistic regression analyses consistently associated low education, age 80 or older, low income and female gender with higher probabilities of being internet non-user between 2004 an 2021. CHAID analysis revealed that education and age are the strongest predictors of non-use. The cumulative impact of sociodemographic factors enables to reveal subgroups where prevalence rates of non-use are almost three times higher than the prevalence reported in the population of older people in general. The result that 80.1 percent of individuals aged 80 and above with limited education did not use the internet underscores the need for a comprehensive digital inclusion approach, including strategies to overcome economic barriers to internet access and tailored internet training initiatives addressing digital skills and motivation. CHAID results help policymakers and internet training providers identify subgroups with high prevalence rates of non-users and target interventions to those at a high risk of digital exclusion.
... The digital divide can be described as the incapability to understand technology (Pinar, 2024) and this may lead to digital inequalities, especially in digitalized societies. Digital barriers may exist by gender, geographical location, age group, income and education (Acilar & Saebø, 2023;Ndoya & Asongu, 2024;Pinar, 2024;Thomä, 2023;Zhao et al., 2023). By looking at the related literature regarding senior citizens and technology, hence, this paper highlights the existence of digital barriers issue which can impact unequal access to various information, and lack of education in a growing digital-based community and thus, this will lead to a feeling of ignorance or felling left out within the digital age. ...
Nowadays, digital technology has been an important element in assisting the community in their daily routine. During the COVID-19 era, The Special Committee for Ensuring Access to COVID-19 Vaccine Supply (JKJAV) has been initiated to assist the health and well-being of Malaysian citizens in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. MySejahtera, a healthcare application technology, has been used by Malaysian citizens for seeking vaccination information as well as updating their health status. While there are benefits to using the application, there is still a challenge in using the technology among senior citizens. This study aims to investigate digital barriers to using a healthcare application, known as MySejahtera, among senior citizens in Kelantan. This study also reveals lessons learned regarding the use of technology among senior citizens during the Covid-19 era. Convergent parallel mixed method research design is initiated to produce a sentiment analysis for identifying digital barriers issues and challenges among senior citizens in Kelantan. 5 respondents aged from 60 to 80 years old were interviewed to obtain their sentiments on using digital technology for vaccination information and Covid-19 news. This study highlights issues namely awareness of knowledge, misconception about digital technology, information quality and technology usage among the senior citizens in Kelantan. This study summarizes that there is a need to reduce digital barriers among senior citizens to ensure digital inclusion for their benefit in health and well-being.
... Interestingly, 11.6% of the respondents who did not own mobile phones were women, married (4.7%) and widowed (6.9%). This implies a gender digital divide, which is very common in many countries from the Global South (Acilar and Saebø, 2023;Potnis, 2016;Singh, 2017). For instance, a study in Pakistan shows there is low use and ownership of mobile phones among rural women compared to men and their urban women counterparts (Ma et al., 2023). ...
This article explores the role and effects of mobile phone technologies in ensuring farmers’ access to agricultural information and extension services in a tea outgrowing scheme in Tanzania. Semi-structured interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews were employed to collect the information. The study revealed that the rapid infiltration of mobile phone technologies into Tanzania's rural areas since the late 2000s has simplified the provision of agricultural extension services. Both farmers and extension service workers perceive mobile phone technologies as an essential supplementary mechanism to ensure easy and timely access to agricultural information. In the context of a tea outgrowing scheme, farmers use mobile phone technologies to access information on input distribution, tea collection time, farmers’ meetings, and how to address some agricultural-related challenges independently. Extension service officers also rely on mobile phone technologies for sensitization. The study highlights the importance of complementing traditional and modern extension service mechanisms to ensure farmers’ efficient and timely access to agricultural extension services and information. Mobile phone affordability and its use cost are also a concern when considering improving agricultural extension service mechanisms.
... Additionally, recent literature suggests that although the access gap has lessened, differences in confidence and attitudes towards technology still exist, affecting how men and women use digital tools in academic contexts (Dixon et al., 2014;Acilar and Saebø, 2023). For example, it has been observed that women, despite having equal access, may report lower levels of confidence in their technological skills compared to their male counterparts. ...
Introduction
In the digital era, the evolving demands of professional fields, especially in higher education, have accentuated the need for advanced digital competencies among faculty members. Digital competencies are now considered essential for effective teaching, necessitating an in-depth understanding of how these skills are distributed across different demographics, including gender and academic level. This study aims to explore the digital competencies of faculty members at the State University of Milagro, focusing on how these competencies vary by gender and academic level.
Methods
This study employed a quantitative approach within the positivist paradigm to assess the digital competencies of 279 faculty members at the State University of Milagro. Data were collected using the Higher Education Digital Competence Assessment Questionnaire, a validated instrument designed to measure various dimensions of digital skills. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS to evaluate the internal consistency of the competencies and to identify correlations among them, as well as to assess the influence of gender and academic level on these competencies.
Results
The analysis revealed significant correlations among the different dimensions of digital competencies, indicating that proficiency in one area often contributes to the development of skills in other areas. The integrative nature of digital technologies within the academic environment was evident, with a high level of internal consistency observed across the competencies assessed. Notably, differences were found based on gender and academic level, suggesting that these demographic factors influence technological exposure and training, with certain groups displaying higher competency levels in specific areas.
Discussion
The findings highlight the importance of promoting integrative educational strategies that consider the diverse backgrounds of faculty members to ensure equitable development of digital competencies. The observed gender and academic level disparities underline the need for targeted interventions that address the specific needs of different faculty groups. By fostering a more balanced development of digital skills, institutions can enhance overall teaching effectiveness and better prepare faculty to meet the demands of modern educational environments. These results contribute to the ongoing discourse on digital competency development in higher education and suggest avenues for further research on how to bridge existing gaps in digital skills among faculty.
... Such approaches include incorporating an intersectional lens across all data and indicators and tailoring the types of data and indicators included and processes used to the specific context. For example, the use of digital tools in data collection is increasing but does not always consider women's disproportionate phone ownership and access to phones and the internet (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). Or, depending on the type of data being collected, it might be most appropriate to only employ women data collectors (Vollmer et al., 2021). ...
Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for health and health systems interventions and programs is vital to improve health, health systems, and gender equality outcomes. It can be used to identify and address gender disparities in program participation, outcomes and benefits, as well as ensure that programs are designed and implemented in a way that is inclusive and accessible for all. While gender-responsive M&E is most effective when interventions and programs intentionally integrate a gender lens, it is relevant for all health systems programs and interventions. Within the literature, gender-responsive M&E is defined in different and diverse ways, making it difficult to operationalize. This is compounded by the complexity and multi-faceted nature of gender. Within this methodological musing, we present our evolving approach to gender-responsive M&E which we are operationalizing within the Monitoring for Gender and Equity project. We define gender-responsive M&E as intentionally integrating the needs, rights, preferences of, and power relations among, women and girls, men and boys, and gender minority individuals, as well as across social, political, economic, and health systems in M&E processes. This is done through the integration of different types of gender data and indicators, including: sex- or gender-specific, sex- or gender-disaggregated, sex- or gender-specific/disaggregated which incorporate needs, rights and preferences, and gender power relations and systems indicators. Examples of each of these are included within the paper. Active approaches can also enhance the gender-responsiveness of any M&E activities, including incorporating an intersectional lens and tailoring the types of data and indicators included and processes used to the specific context. Incorporating gender into the programmatic cycle, including M&E, can lead to more fit-for-purpose, effective and equitable programs and interventions. The framework presented in this paper provides an outline of how to do this, enabling the uptake of gender-responsive M&E.
... Within this context, understanding the causes of the second level of the digital divide becomes crucial as it allows us to comprehend the heterogeneity within the older adult population regarding digital skills [3,4]. Several factors contribute to this diversity, encompassing socio-economic status [5], educational level [5][6][7], gender [8], race [9], social support [10], age [11,12], health status [13], and self-efficacy [7,14]. Moreover, 'technology anxiety,' indicating the fear and resistance to using technology, has emerged as a significant barrier for older individuals in adopting and using technologies [15]. ...
The rapid growth of the aging population and the increasing digitiza-tion of processes and services have underscored the necessity for the digital inclusion of older adults. This challenge has evolved into a human rights issue, as it empowers older adults to access opportunities provided by technological advancements and, in turn, exercise their rights. While the disciplines of gerontology and human-computer interaction (HCI) individually address the digital inclusion of older people, they often fail to engage in dialogue. In this context, we propose the concept of educational gerontechnology intending to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between gerontology, HCI, and the human rights approach. We first address each of the three main topics for educational gerontology. Then, we present a comprehensive model for the digital inclusion of older adults, emphasizing that educational gerontechnology encompasses the study and practice of educational initiatives focused on the relationship between technology, old age, and aging. Finally, we discuss future directions in this area.
... In contrast, women show greater proficiency in the use of word processing programs. Similarly, there are other studies that corroborate this finding, where it is described that the male gender has a better level of use of ICT [46]. ...
In the contemporary era, the convergence between education and digital technology demands an ongoing revision of pedagogical strategies, focusing on placing the student as the protagonist of the learning process. This study aimed to analyse the digital competencies of students from the Higher Technological Institute of Spain (ISTE) in Ecuador, considering their attitude, knowledge, and use of information and communication technologies (ICT), as well as how sociodemographic variables affect this context. Using a non-experimental, descriptive, cross-sectional research design with a correlational approach to variables, the ACUTIC questionnaire was applied to a sample of 156 ISTE students. The data was analysed with R Commander 4.3.1, first performing a descriptive analysis exploring trends in variables such as age and gender. Furthermore, the use of parametric and non-parametric tests depends on the data distribution. The results confirmed that there are no gender differences in attitude, knowledge, or use of these technologies (p-value > 0.05). While age does not correlate with ICT use (p = 0.1661) or attitude (p = 0.1173), it does relate to knowledge of them (p = 0.0182) and to the possession of computers and smartphones (p < 0.001 and p = 0.0059, respectively). There is a robust correlation between ICT knowledge and use (p-value < 2.2e-16). Geographical location corresponds with stable internet access (p = 0.0000) and computer ownership (p = 0.0028). In conclusion, the digital competencies of ISTE students in Ecuador are influenced by multiple sociodemographic factors and represent a crucial aspect of adapting to the changes and demands of education.
... A pressing concern is the gender digital divide, which highlights the discrepancies in accessing and utilizing digital technologies between genders. Research indicates that women often have limited access to digital devices compared to men (Acilar & Saebø, 2023). The 2018 OECD report further revealed that females not only utilize fewer digital services but also possess less confidence in Internet usage than their male counterparts (OECD, 2018). ...
The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic underscored the significance of telehealth as a health-care delivery method, particularly for the vulnerable older adult population. Nonetheless, disparities in accessing and utilizing telehealth services persist, influenced by demographic and socioeconomic factors such as gender. This study aims to investigate the utilization of telehealth services among older adults in the United States, focusing on gender-related disparities and associated factors. Using the Round 10 and COVID-19 supplement data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study, the study examined 3,257 participants (male: 42.06%; female: 57.94%). We compared the use of telehealth services before and during the pandemic and conducted a series of logistic regression models to assess factors linked to telehealth utilization by gender. Overall, there was a significant shift toward greater use of telehealth among females during the pandemic, with multimorbidity significantly influencing the relationship between gender and telehealth utilization. For males, those who had multimorbidity (odds ratio [OR] = 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07 – 3.84), owned a tablet before COVID-19 (OR = 1.89; 95% CI = 1.13 – 3.14), and learned new technologies during the pandemic (OR = 2.29; 95% CI = 1.37 – 3.82) had higher odds of telehealth use. For females, those with worse self-reported health scores (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.03 – 1.59), owned a tablet (OR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.32 – 3.23), and learned new technology (OR = 3.37; 95% CI = 2.17 – 5.24) during the pandemic demonstrated increased odds of telehealth use. Gender-based differences in telehealth utilization were evident, highlighting the need for targeted interventions that enhance older adults’ access to telehealth services and mitigate digital disparities.
... The Digital Living Scale, although comprehensive, primarily reflects the subjective experiences of individuals with digital technology in their social and daily lives. This subjective perspective may not capture the full spectrum of digital living's impact, especially in a professional context, as recent meta-analysis suggested (Acilar and Saebø, 2023). Moreover, the survey was conducted in English. ...
Background
This time-lagged study delves into the impact of digitalization on job stress. Digitalization is defined as the incorporation of digital technologies into various aspects of work life, fundamentally transforming processes, interactions, and decision-making.
Aim
The present research focuses on the mediating roles of job-related risk and personal risk, and the moderating effect of gender. We hypothesized that employees’ aversion to risks, both in their professional and personal facets, mediates the relationship between the rapid digitalization of their work environment and the resultant job stress. Regarding gender as a moderator, recent research suggests that gender can influence the experience of workplace stress, with women often experiencing higher levels of stress than men in certain situations. This indicates that gender might also moderate the relationship between digital living, risk perception, and job-related stress. This approach allows for an examination of the ways in which digital technology adoption influences workplace stress, considering the temporally spaced data.
Methods
Conducted over three waves of data collection among 795 Chinese employees, the research utilizes Hayes’s Model 8, adept at revealing the dynamics of digitalization’s influence in the workplace and its effects on individual well-being.
Results
The study corroborates Hypothesis 1 by establishing a significant, albeit less pronounced, relationship between digital living and job stress. The findings also support Hypothesis 2 by demonstrating that both job risk and personal risk mediate this relationship. The study’s results also validate Hypothesis 3, indicating that gender moderates the relationship between digital living, job risk, personal risk, and job stress. Finally, the significant interaction effects found in the study, particularly the stronger conditional negative effect of digital living on perceptions of job and personal risks for males, despite the absence of statistical significance failed to support Hypothesis 4.
Implications
This study sheds light on the dynamics of job stress in the context of a digitalizing work environment. The results have important implications for designing workplace strategies and interventions that are sensitive to risk perceptions and gender differences in the digital era.
... First, we observe a significant gender gap in favor of male youths in most countries in our sample. These observed gaps are in line with the findings from a systematic literature review by Ref. [64], which observed a significant gender gap in access to digital technology, especially among developing countries. Recognizing the review's observation that the literature on gender digital divide need to move beyond access to second-level divide such as literacy, our findings also fill in the much-needed insight into the gaps in digital skills with particular attention to developing countries. ...
This study investigates gender gaps in digital skills among youth (15–24 years old) in 32 low- and middle-income economies using data from UNICEF-supported and internationally comparable Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). Utilizing a household fixed effects approach, we aim to isolate gender-based disparities from household-level variations. The intra-household analysis reveals significant inequalities, with biases against young women in possessing digital skills, including the very basic ones. Supplementary analysis using a mixed-effects model, which accounts separately for within- and between-household variation, highlights that wealthier households exhibit larger gender gaps in digital skills, disadvantaging young women primarily due to a floor effect in the poorest households. The paper concludes with policy implications aimed at reducing gender gaps in digital skills.
This study investigates how intersecting social identities shape the information behaviours of women and immigrant digital entrepreneurs in Nigeria, addressing systemic inequalities through information practices. Using a qualitative approach, the research analyses interviews with 26 digital entrepreneurs, including seven marginalized women and immigrant entrepreneurs, employing grounded theory and critical realism. Findings reveal that gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion and socioeconomic status create multilayered barriers to information. Conversely, technology, online communities including WhatsApp groups and mutual support networks emerge as critical enablers, fostering agency and resilience. The study introduces Socio-Informational Stratification (SIS), a mid-range theory highlighting how marginalized entrepreneurs navigate stratified information environments, repositioning themselves despite structural constraints. Through bridging micro-level lived experiences with macro-level structural forces, this study advances understanding of how marginalized groups leverage information to challenge systemic inequities in Nigeria’s evolving digital entrepreneurship environment.
The rapid expansion of the digital economy, driven by advancements in technology, is reshaping global markets, making digital skills essential for workforce success. This study examines how well-prepared students are to navigate this evolving landscape and identifies gaps in their readiness. Factors such as outdated curricula, the digital divide, and inadequate infrastructure hinder students' ability to acquire necessary skills like coding, AI, and data analysis. To bridge these gaps, education systems must update curricula, provide equitable access to digital tools, and promote continuous learning. By fostering digital literacy and adaptability, institutions can better equip students for success in the digital economy and future job markets.
With changed dynamics in the delivery of education in this generation, it can be affirmatively deduced that social networks will play a growing role. New technologies including artificial intelligence, blockchain, and IoT are possibilities for improving the learning process. But this progress brings in new privacy issues and that is why constant monitoring and constant change is the key here. This chapter strives to give a detailed analysis of the relationship between the educational advantages and privacy issues in social network-based learning. Thus, it tries to provide the reader with knowledge of its advantages and limitations as well as hints on how to avoid the pitfall in this rather sophisticated area. Finally, the goal is to create an educational environment that will enable innovation and preservation of privacy of students and educators in the modern era.
The government's emphasis on technology has played a crucial role in driving the digital revolution in India. The government has implemented many measures to foster the use of digital technology in the nation, such as the Digital India program. The program's objective is to establish a digital framework that would facilitate universal access to government services and information through online platforms. This research paper studies how India has experienced a significant transformation in shopping patterns due to the digital revolution. E-commerce sites such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal have gained popularity in India by providing consumers with a diverse selection of products at cheap costs. The emergence of e-commerce has presented prospects for small enterprises to vend their merchandise on the Internet, broadening their clientele outside their regional markets.The government has implemented other initiatives to encourage digital literacy, including the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA).
The role of technology in our daily lives is increasing exponentially. This is evident in the diverse range of individuals who are now required to interact with computers, including university professors, kindergarten children, farmers, and nuclear scientists. The efforts of public institutions, politicians, and policymakers to address this issue have been insufficient. The accelerated developments in information and communication technologies have rendered it challenging for a considerable number of individuals to engage with these technologies in a manner that is both democratic and meaningful. This study addresses the digital divide issue in the context of technological determinism, examining the influence of various factors on the digital divide in the context of technological determinism. These factors include age, gender, digital abilities, race/ethnicity, and language.
Does digital stratification foster inequalities in access to work and employment? We address this question by examining inequalities related to online job search skills and the outcomes of the online search process. Results from a representative survey of 1103 Spanish jobseekers show that online job search skills positively affect the chances of getting an interview through employment platforms but that they are unevenly distributed. Online job search skills are more important than other digital resources, including basic digital skills, in determining positive outcomes of online job searches though there are still inequalities in getting an interview independent of either. This calls for considering domain-specific digital skills both in research and in practice alongside tackling traditional inequalities.
La integración creciente de las Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (TICs) y el internet en la sociedad y la economía resalta la necesidad de abordar la brecha digital. Esta disparidad se manifiesta en tres niveles: acceso, uso y aprovechamiento. Dentro de esta diversificación de la brecha, se encuentra la brecha digital de género (BDG), la cual refleja la desigualdad entre hombres y mujeres en el uso y aprovechamiento de las TICs, a menudo debido a estereotipos y roles de género afectando en el desarrollo social y económico de las mujeres. Este artículo analiza los tres niveles de brecha digital y sus efectos en el género femenino mediante una revisión sistemática de literatura existente entre 2015 y 2023. La revisión se realizó en los motores de búsqueda: Dialnet, Redalyc y Scielo utilizando las fórmulas: (("brecha digital") AND ((mujeres) OR (género))) AND NOT ("estudiantes") AND NOT ("docentes") y ("digital divide") AND ((women) OR (gender)) AND NOT ("students") AND NOT ("teachers"). De esta revisión, se obtuvieron de 71 documentos únicos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 9, adicionando 7 revisiones previas y 2 citas provenientes de los documentos analizados. Los principales resultados indican que existe una limitada difusión de la BDG, sin embargo, se denota que está principalmente asociada a la brecha de uso. Esto se atribuye a los estigmas de género, al uso feminizado de las tecnologías y la limitada representación de las mujeres en programas educativos relacionados con tecnología. Posteriormente se analizó la situación de la BDG en México a partir del 2021, lo cual, permitió visualizar que aún existe una importante brecha de uso e integración de mujeres en profesiones vinculadas con tecnología.
The world at present is witnessing digital transformation. It has paved way for economic empowerment of women and is contributing to a great extent bridging the gap based on gender. The technology and digitalisation through internet and mobile phones have created more and more opportunities for the women to get themselves engaged in some sort of job or service which offers multiple benefits to them and their families. But still in the employment sector a wide gap exists between men and women especially in terms of innovations and skills. The present study intended to identify the factors influencing the preference of women towards digital technology. It was identified that their preference towards technology is influenced by individual and technology specific factors.
Online shopping has grown exponentially in the Russian Federation (hereinafter referred to as RF, Russia) in recent years. This growth has significantly accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, data shows that there are inter-regional disparities in the use of online shopping. This includes intergenerational and rural-urban disparities. This study investigates the factors responsible for inter-regional differences in the development of online shopping in Russia. The author has identified 5 main factors that can influence the development: internet infrastructure (measured by regional expenses for the introduction of digital technologies and the number of connected mobile subscribers), economic wealth (measured by gross regional product), standard of living (measured by the population income), rate of poverty, and the region’s population. The research uses data of the Federal State Statistics Service and Association of Internet Trade Companies to analyse 85 regions in the RF. A multi-level regression analysis has enabled examination of the 5 factors and the contextual influence of 8 federal districts of Russia in level 2. The results show that internet infrastructure, economic wealth, population size, and the 8 federal districts has influenced the development of online shopping in the RF, but standard of living is not statistically significant. The author recommends that policymakers pay attention to these underlying factors.
The dynamics of digital technologies affect the economy and society, opening up new opportunities and prospects for promoting gender equality in the workplace. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of digital technologies in promoting gender equality, assess their impact on various aspects of women's lives, and identify the main challenges and prospects associated with their use. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including secondary data analysis, surveys, and case studies, to assess the impact of digitalization on women's employment and professional development. Special attention is paid to comparing the results of countries in international rankings, which allows us to identify the most successful practices and general trends. Despite the measures taken by Kazakhstan to ensure gender equality in areas such as digitalization and the successes achieved, it is still being revealed that there are many inequalities in the labor market of Kazakhstan. Surveys conducted among 174 respondents (59.7% women) revealed that 55.7% believe digital technologies can reduce gender discrimination in the labor market, and 56.3% recognize the contribution of digital labor to gender equality. Findings suggest that digital platforms enhance women's participation in the labor market, offering flexible work arrangements and professional growth opportunities. However, barriers such as limited access to digital education and persistent gender stereotypes still hinder women's full participation in the digital economy. The paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers to develop gender-focused digital strategies to ensure equitable access to digital resources and opportunities.
This study evaluated the perspectives and educational needs of Canadian oncology residents with regard to artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine, exploring the influence of factors such as program of choice, gender, and tech literacy on their attitudes towards AI. An ethics-approved survey collected anonymous responses from Canadian oncology residents from December 2022 to July 2023. Comparisons by demographics were made using Chi-square and Mann–Whitney U tests. A total of 57 residents and fellows responded out of an expected 182, with representation from each oncology training program in Canada. Over half of the participants were male (63.2%), with radiation oncology programs being better represented than medical oncology programs (68.4% vs. 31.6%). There was balanced representation across all years of training. Most trainees (73%) were interested in learning more about AI, and many believed the topic should be formally taught during residency (63%), preferably through workshops (79%). Among evaluated factors, tech literacy showed the most impact over AI perspectives, driving a perception shift towards viewing AI as an improvement tool, rather than as a threat to professionals. In conclusion, Canadian oncology residents anticipate AI’s growing influence in medicine but face educational deficiencies. Gender, oncology discipline, and self-reported tech literacy impact attitudes toward AI, highlighting the need for inclusive education.
At the dawn of twenty-first century, the world is witnessing an unprecedented surge in technological advancements, shaping every aspect of human life. Specifically, rapid advancements in digital technologies have brought about a fundamental shift in how we communicate, work, learn, entertain ourselves and navigate the world. Advancements in digital technology have had a significant impact on various aspects of society, including communication, education, healthcare, entertainment, business, and governance. They have facilitated greater connectivity, increased efficiency, expanded access to information and services and transformed the way we live, work, and interact with each other. However, the benefits of rapid advancement in digital technology has, unfortunately, been restricted to only those having access to it. This inequality among the people towards access to digital technologies is expressed by the term “digital divide” that refers to the gap between those who have access to and can effectively use digital technologies and those who do not. It encompasses disparities in internet access, technology skills, and the ability to utilize digital resources and services. The digital divide has significant implications for individuals and societies. Those who lack access to digital technologies may face difficulties in accessing educational resources, employment opportunities, healthcare services, and participating in civic and democratic processes. It can exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities and further widen the “knowledge gap” between those who are digitally connected and those who are not. This chapter attempts to drive our focus on the digital divide phenomenon and further draws a connection between digital divide and efforts to accomplish sustainable development goals for the humankind. Meanwhile, the discussion throws light upon the phenomenal impact of digital divide on human life, specifically, in the aftermath of the recent pandemic. Also, various factors responsible for digital divide formation, particularly, in the context of developed and developing countries are discussed and multiple government, non-government and private sector initiatives addressing to bridge it are brought to the notice.
La competencia para el emprendimiento digital suele estar más presente en la etapa de educación superior, que en otras etapas previas. Por ello, en este artículo se hace un análisis para conocer cómo es la formación inicial del alumnado universitario en cuanto al emprendimiento digital y qué necesidades formativas hay. Para ello, se tiene en cuenta tanto la propia perspectiva de los estudiantes, como también la visión que tienen los emprendedores digitales de éxito sobre las acciones formativas relacionadas. A través de una metodología mixta explicativa secuencial (DEXPLIS), 1108 estudiantes universitarios de último curso de la Región de Murcia (España) cumplimentaron un cuestionario como primera fase de recogida de información. Seguidamente, 17 emprendedores de éxito a nivel nacional fueron entrevistados. De todos los resultados analizados se extrae que las principales necesidades formativas se hallan en relación tanto a los primeros pasos de la creación de una iniciativa, como en la aplicación de ciertas tareas de gestión. Se concluye que es fundamental la aplicación de una acción formativa a partir de la que se prioricen las necesidades reportadas en este estudio. Asimismo, se extrae que no es pertinente la creación de itinerarios formativos según el sexo o las ramas de conocimiento, aunque sí la integración de materiales complementarios para determinadas ramas, como es el caso de las Ciencias.
This pedagogical toolkit complements the competency framework entitled “AI Ethics Training in Higher Education: Competency Framework", which we produced thanks to the "Pôle montréalais d'enseignement supérieur en intelligence artificielle" (PIA). In this pedagogical toolkit, we provide concrete ways of carrying out training activities that will help develop the various aspects of AI ethics competency. For each activity, you will find a short explanation of the link between the proposed activity and the elements of the competency framework. This pedagogical toolkit should be seen as a working document that can be used creatively by the teachers who use it.
Gender disparities in the field of Information Technology (IT) have persisted over time. Globally, women made up only 27.2% of IT workers in 2018. In the United Kingdom, only one in six IT specialists is female. Such extreme male dominance may result in a gender structure that influences women's experiences with IT work. Women face more challenges once hired, and they leave the field twice as fast as men. These disparities stem from a gamut of factors, including the misconception that women are weak in technology. Gender disparities in IT also find expressions in student enrolment numbers in institutions of higher learning. In Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU), gender disparities in student enrolments are pronounced. In both diploma and degree programs, male students constituted about 90% of the student population. Using a qualitative method, the study randomly distributed open-ended questionnaires to forty students pursuing diploma and degree programs in IT at GCTU. Furthermore, the study randomly analysed the examination scripts of fifty students in the IT department from 2020 to 2023 to determine the gender patterns in their academic performances. In addition, the admission of students into GCTU to study IT programs from 2018-2023 was analysed to determine gender trends. The study concluded that there are ingrained gender perspectives of students both in terms of study and career prospects. The study recommends that GCTU should vigorously pursue a holistic integration of the study of IT to bridge the overt gender gaps.
This chapter critiques and builds upon critical digital literacy studies by synthesizing queer theory to inspire more inclusive approaches to understandings of digital literacy.
Zagadnienie nierówności społecznych cieszy się niesłabnącym zainteresowaniem badaczy zarówno z Polski, jak i ze świata, co nie dziwi z perspektywy turbulentnego otoczenia, w jakim przyszło żyć ludziom tworzącym społeczeństwa. Ostatnie lata, naznaczone trudnymi i nieznanymi współcześnie wydarzeniami, takimi jak, np.: pandemia COVID-19, wojna tuż za granicą Unii Europejskiej, kryzysy ekonomiczne, migracyjne i humanitarne, klęski naturalne i ekologiczne, przyczyniły się do wzrostu liczby publikacji naukowych w tematyce szeroko ujmowanych nierówności: ekonomicznych, edukacyjnych, środowiskowych, technologicznych czy politycznych, nierównego traktowania ze względu na: płeć, wiek, pochodzenie, wyznawany światopogląd, uczestniczenie w określonej kulturze czy wyznawaną wiarę. Niniejszy artykuł, wykorzystując zasoby wyszukiwarek dedykowanych publikacjom naukowym: Google Scholar i Scopus, poświęcony został na analizę występowania i bibliometrycznej identyfikacji zagranicznych dysertacji typu przegląd literatury i badań w zakresie tematyki nierówności społecznych, a także przedstawienie, w wymiarze liczbowym, zainteresowania badaczy spoza Polski zagadnieniami uzupełniającymi i charakteryzującymi ww. tematykę, do których zaliczono frazy dopełniające pojęcie nierówności: ekonomiczne, społeczne, rasowe, kulturowe, edukacyjne, dochodowe, warunkowane płcią, ekologiczne (środowiskowe), technologiczne. Weryfikacji badawczej poddawano opracowania opublikowane w latach 2018–2023 (stan na dzień 15.09.2023 r.), co czyni prezentowany artykuł aktualnym, a z racji niestandardowej formuły – ciekawym i innowacyjnym przeglądem literatury i badań w ważnych dla współczesnych społeczeństw dziedzinach.
Cette trousse pédagogique est complémentaire au référentiel de compétence intitulé "Former à l’éthique de l’IA en enseignement supérieur : référentiel de compétence" que nous avons produit grâce au Pôle montréalais d’enseignement supérieur en intelligence artificielle (PIA). Nous proposons dans cette trousse pédagogique des moyens concrets pour réaliser des activités de formation qui permettront de développer les différents aspects de la compétence en éthique de l’IA. Pour chaque activité, vous retrouverez une courte explication du lien entre l’activité proposée et ces éléments provenant du référentiel de compétence. Cette trousse pédagogique doit être envisagée comme un document de travail à partir duquel la créativité des personnes enseignantes qui l’utiliseront pourra être mise à profit.
The aim of this study is to investigate male and female college students’ use patterns of a learning management system (LMS) in an e-learning environment. This study evaluated the structural differences between male and female college students in their LMS use patterns through a multifactor model. The research was conducted with 443 participants at a university in Korea. Four factor structures comprising 14 items measured on a five-point Likert scale were used for the analyses. After confirmatory structures for each gender were modified, the equivalence was examined by testing for factorial invariance and the latent means. The results indicated that, for three factors, male students used the LMS more than females and that neither gender preferred communicating and collaborating with each other. It was also found that students understood learning activities in more diverse ways than through theories. The results, which reflected Korea’s general educational context, indicated that a gender digital divide issue remains to be bridged and left recommendations for comprehensive development including the search for strategies for more participative LMS operations.
The implications of digital technologies for the transformation of gender relations and identities have been discussed since the early days of the internet. Although gender studies have identified clear gender gaps in terms of digital inclusion as well as potentialities for the transformation of women’s subjectivity, there is a lack of empirical evidence of the impact of digitalization in terms of time use from a gender perspective. Public policies have begun to address the digital gender gap, but the incorporation of a gender perspective in digital inclusion programmes which promotes women’s emancipation by challenging the gender division of time through use of the internet has been not incorporated in the digital policies agenda. This article aims to provide empirical evidence of the mutual interrelation between the time allocation and digital inclusion from a gender perspective. It considers how gender inequalities in time use shape women’s experience of digital inclusion and, at the same time, how digital inclusion promotes the reconfiguration of time in women’s everyday lives. Qualitative analysis based on episodic interviews explored the representations and practices of internet use by women in their everyday lives. The sample was made up of 32 women who were digitally included through a lifelong learning programme in Spain and had experienced the effects of the Spanish economic crisis. The article argues that digital inclusion does not automatically lead to a more egalitarian allocation of time use for women, but rather places greater value on women’s free time.
In recent decades, technological advances have been revolutionizing all areas of society, including the teaching resources and methodologies used in the world of education. Teachers are in the process of adapting to develop the digital skills they need for the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), a process that must be permanent and in which there are still knowledge gaps undermining its application. This study aims to determine whether this lack of digital skills is influenced by the gender of teachers, for example, whether there is a gender gap in ICT application in teaching, specifically Dual Vocational Education and Training, which is a teaching area that has been growing exponentially in recent years. A descriptive quantitative method has been used for this study with a sample of 1568 teachers of Dual Vocational Education and Training from the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, with data collected through a questionnaire. The results show that while the level of knowledge of ICT resources is medium among this group and is therefore improvable, there are no significant gender differences between teachers with respect to the application of e-skills by teaching professionals, despite the existence in other contexts of a large digital gender gap in new technology professionals.
Web of Science and Scopus are two world-leading and competing citation databases. By using the Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index, this paper conducts a comparative, dynamic, and empirical study focusing on the use of Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus in academic papers published during 2004 and 2018. This brief communication reveals that although both Web of Science and Scopus are increasingly used in academic papers, Scopus as a new-comer is really challenging the dominating role of WoS. Researchers from more and more countries/regions and knowledge domains are involved in the use of these two databases. Even though the main producers of related papers are developed economies, some developing economies such as China, Brazil and Iran also act important roles but with different patterns in the use of these two databases. Both two databases are widely used in meta-analysis related studies especially for researchers in China. Health/medical science related domains and the traditional Information Science and Library Science field stand out in the use of citation databases.
Despite the headway the world has experienced over the last couple of years in terms of a substantial increase in digital access, there are still significant challenges to overcome in ensuring women are included in the transformation to a digital society, which in turn will enhance productivity and social development. Efforts to increase internet adoption access through broadband plans and legislative reforms have yielded improvements in use and adoption. However, there is still a stark and pervasive gender inequality in terms of access, ownership of digital devices, digital fluency as well as the capacity to make meaningful use of the access to technology. Even though affordability is a key source of exclusion, there are also significant socio-cultural norms that restrict access for women. This paper brings forward the argument that access alone is not enough, women need agency and capacity to leverage access. The authors thus highlight the need to make an assessment of the global gender gap and develop meaningful indicators that contribute to the design and implementation of effective policies that drive adoption. We need effective promotion of women´s digital adoption not only from the government but also from the private sector and civil society in order to lead the digital adoption of best practices for women around the world.
Exponential use of ICT has brought colossal opportunities as well as challenges to the present society. In spite of increasing women’s involvement in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) , gender inequality has yet remained critical across the nations and globe. The uneven access and skills to technology has intensified the degree of digital divide specially for the women. Further the multifaced attribute of ICT and its relation with women is changing discourses among the feminist scholars. This is a conceptual paper which focuses on the deliberations of different feminists based on optimistic and pessimistic perspectives. Some studies show that the gender digital divide is getting intense while some have reported of alleviating gaps with more involvement of women. The concept of digital divide is beyond the access and includes various dimensions such as perception, usage, motivation, participation and skills. The paper deals with the tension between utopian and dystopian views on technology benefits. Through literature review this conceptual paper examines and discusses the diverse standpoints of feminist scholars from west and east which buzzes to redefine the relationship of gender with technology. It recommends that empowerment of women in technological domain is equally important as social, economic and political. Further women should be motivated from within to embrace ICT and get benefitted from its prospects. Resisting modern technology in the digital era would further widen the digital gap and thus make difficult to observe gender equality. More studies are required to explore the strategies for technological empowerment of women.
This study, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Policy Department for Citizens’ Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of the FEMM Committee, attempts to reveal the links between the different factors (access, skills, socio-economic and cultural), which prevent women from having equal access to digital technology. It then suggests ways of dealing with online and offline inequalities to the effect of closing the digital gender gap and improving women’s and girls’ digital inclusion and future technology-related career paths.
This paper analyzes the interactions that public employees perform in social media communities, providing empirical evidence on the dynamics of internal collaboration. In general terms, this study responds to a rising interest in the study of social media communities as tools for co-production and innovation. In doing so, this paper asks the following research questions: How do interactions among public employees occur within a social media community? What factors determine the number of interactions in a public-sector specific social media community? For this purpose, our study analyzes NovaGob, the most active digital social media community of public sector innovation in Spain and Latin America. By using social network analysis (SNA), we provide evidence on the importance of formal and informal power in stimulating participation. Moreover, we show how interest and will to collaborate influences the number of interactions. Finally, this study uses a gender variable to discuss the possible existence of a second digital gender gap, which affects how public sector employees use these communities. This paper advances some conclusions about the behavior of public employees collaborating in social media communities, suggesting the need for future attention to inter-agency phenomenon.
There is still a gender digital divide in Indonesia. Indonesian women need digital media literacy skills to effectively use the Internet and to raise their quality of life. Empowering literacy abilities includes the skills of using digital media to access, search, analyze, reflect, share, and create. In this qualitative research study, founders, leaders, and participants from IWITA (Indonesian Women Information Technology Awareness) and FemaleDev (Female Developer) were interviewed because these organizations focus on developing digital literacy for women. The findings indicated that digital media literacy remains low because of inadequate education, lack of opportunities and the patriarchal system in Indonesia.
This study aims at exploring how information and communications technology (ICT) is accessed and used by women and men in Rwanda. Specifically, we analyze the factors that contribute to the gender digital divide in Rwanda. In addition, we assess the importance of equal access to ICTs between genders. Rwanda is a particulary intersting case study, since previous studies on gender differences in the usage and accessibility of ICTs have focused on Western countries, while Africa, and Rwanda in particular, have been less covered. The qualitative method of in-depth interviews was used to collect the data. Interviews were analyzed using a thematic analysis technique. The findings of this study reveal that a gender digital divide still exists in Rwanda, even though the government puts forth much effort to eradicate this phenomenon. Reasons for barriers for women’s access to ICTs were found in social, economic and cultural factors, such as feelings of lack of self-worth, self-confidence, and proper educations; heavy domestic responsibilities; and computer anxiety. The findings also indicated that equal access to ICTs would be a shortcut to economic growth in Rwanda. This study concludes that Rwandan women need to be better educated in the use of computer technologies. Certain gender-sensitive strategies that guide the use of ICTs in this way also need to be established.
The African Union has declared 2010–2020 as the African Women's Decade to accelerate African women's development. However, to achieve the decade's goals, African countries must acknowledge the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in consolidating human capital. This research investigates gender disparities in access and use of ICTs in sub-Saharan Africa and finds that men are more likely to own and use the technologies. Education, socioeconomic status, domesticity and traditionalism are all linked to ICT use. However, the gender gap does not arise as a result of differential returns to these factors for men and women. Rather, it materializes when fewer women have the resources, or are more disadvantaged in accessing and using ICTs. Implications are discussed.
Based on the self-reported usage time, this paper aims at analyzing the gender differences in computer and internet use at home. Using data from the 2012 Survey of Digital Divide in Taiwan, we apply a regression-based decomposition method to identify the underlying causes of observed usage differential between males and females. Conditioned on adoption, it is found that compared with their high-income counterparts, low-income females in Taiwan do not spend more time on internet surfing as a result of the high opportunity cost of leisure time. A further decomposition analysis suggests while the gender-specific factors are not the main causes of gender differences in computer and internet use, differences in internet experience and opportunity cost of leisure time between the two gender groups are root causes of observed gender usage differential. The present study adds to the literature by providing a framework that can be easily extended to understanding the root causes, such as that of gender digital divide, for patriarchal societies where female self-stereotyping is a pronounced problem.
Objectives
We analyze differences in how men and women in Latin American countries are utilizing the Internet to identify a possible regional gendered digital divide in Internet use. The extent, degree, and implications of this gender digital divide are explored across countries with varying degrees of digital freedom.
Methods
We employ a series of random‐ and fixed‐effects models utilizing individual‐level data from the 2010 Latin Barometer merged with country‐level data obtained from the U.N. Gender Inequality Index.
Results
Our results suggest that, in general, Latin American men tend to use the Internet more than women. Men also use more social media and gather political information more frequently. In addition, Internet use is higher across these categories in countries with more gender equality.
Conclusion
The potential for the Internet to serve as a social and political equalizing force in Latin America is stymied in part by the gendered digital divide.
The so-called “digital gender divide” has encouraged studies attempting to demonstrate the co-production of gender and information technology. Vivian Lagesen has criticized many of these attempts for failing to provide fully symmetrical accounts. Here we describe and analyze beliefs and practices concerning computers, gender, and technology evinced by managers in a network of public sites (Community Access Centers) created to provide community access to digital technology in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. From those results, we argue, among other conclusions, that distinguishing more carefully between the gendered uses of new technologies and the gendered forms of attraction associated with them produces a more fully realized and more perfectly symmetric understanding of how gender and communications technologies are co-produced. We show that the concepts of actor-network theory facilitate that analysis, and so interpret the study as supporting and extending Lagesen’s program.
Previous research revealed a reduced number of female students registered in computer science studies. In addition, the female students feel isolated, have reduced confidence, and underperform. This article explores differences between female and male students in undergraduate computer science programs in a mid-size university in Ontario. Based on Kelly's (2008) three levels of digital divide (resources, instruction, and culture specific knowledge), we explored gender specific challenges for each level. The research shows that, while the first level of digital divide is difficult to detect and the second layer is easily detectable, the third layer of digital divide is particularly pervasive and has a disconcerting outcome.
Connecting with citizens is invariably the aim of almost all e-government
projects. Still, governments face multiple challenges in their pursuit of
reaching out to their diverse citizenry spread across an equally varied
geographical terrain. The digital divide refers to the unequal access
of citizens to information and communication technology (ICT), and
unequal possession of the skills and experiences needed to optimize
this technology. The digital divide is a social challenge that keeps people
from taking advantage of public services through the Internet or other
ICT channels. This article will explore the concept of the digital divide in
Jordan, with a particular focus on the gender digital divide (GDD). The
authors conducted an empirical study of this divide within a specific group
represented in Jordanian society (University students) to find out how
e-government and GDD intersect in developing countries. Results point
to the existence of GDD in the Jordanian society with even university
educated men uncomfortable with the thought of allowing women equal
access to the Internet and computers. The GDD, we found, was being
reinforced by cultural mores and educational institutions in a country
that otherwise boasted of commendably high computer literacy rates.
The results have implications for the Jordanian Government in general
and policymakers behind e-governance projects in particular as well as
proponents of gender equality.
Kitung'u Mutua Nicholas Muthama (Corresponding Author) Taita Taveta University College Kenya Abstract The contribution of information technology (IT) cannot be underscored in the current century. Information technology is driving everything and has reduced the whole world into a global village. There is a low participation of females in information technology as compared to males due to their gender and roles. Gender is a social construct defining differentiated roles of males and females. Gender equity is promoting equal opportunity and fair treatment for males and females. Acquisition and application of information technology requires that one creates time and has resources. At work places rarely do organizations spare time to train their human resources on information technology. This means one has to learn information technology during free time. People with more roles to perform outside their daily work tend to be disadvantaged and thus lag behind in information technology. In Africa, gender roles are clearly defined. Females play most of the family chores that eat into their time heavily. This affects their technological advancement. The paper seeks to examine how roles ascribed to gender affect their acquisition and use of information technology. It will also assess whether gender equity as advocated by affirmative action has had an impact in bridging the gap between men and women in information technology.
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.
To achieve the information society for all, access for all is crucial. However, many countries have reported to have large gender discrepancies in online access and participation. This study empirically verified user perception data and compared the data across countries and genders to determine the differences between countries and genders. The results of surveys in Cambodia, Iran, and Korea verify that each aspect of the digital divide and online participation has a different influence on each aspect of digital access and online participation between the genders in each country. In this study, we propose measurement items of digital access and user participation in the online context. This paper also offers guidelines for online policy and business strategy for targeting users with different levels of digital access.
El objetivo principal de este trabajo es analizar el impacto del género en la adopción y utilización de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC) en España. Está generalmente aceptado que los hombres tienden a ser los primeros en usar las nuevas tecnologías y en obtener ventajas significativas de ello, tanto en el hogar como en el trabajo. Sin embargo, sigue siendo necesarios nuevos estudios sobre la relación entre el género y las nuevas tecnologías, como las TIC, para entender mejor las diferencias entre hombres y mujeres. Por un lado, se observa que el porcentaje de usuarios de las TIC es más alto entre los hombres. Por otro lado, nuestros resultados confirman que las mujeres también presentan menor frecuencia de uso de las TIC. Se muestra también como las diferencias de adopción y uso de las TIC son moderadas por aspectos culturales y socioeconómicos. Las diferencias aparecen principalmente en los niveles inferiores de educación y en las áreas rurales. En definitiva, destaca la necesidad de tener en cuenta estos aspectos para eliminar totalmente la brecha digital debida al género. También destaca la importancia de los cambios en los roles en función del género y el aumento de la participación de la mujer en el mercado de trabajo en España.
In a representative survey of the Dutch population we found that people with low levels of education and disabled people are using the Internet for more hours a day in their spare time than higher educated and employed populations. To explain this finding, we investigated what these people are doing online. The first contribution is a theoretically validated cluster of Internet usage types: information, news, personal development, social interaction, leisure, commercial transaction and gaming. The second contribution is that, based on this classification, we were able to identify a number of usage differences, including those demonstrated by people with different gender, age, education and Internet experience, that are often observed in digital divide literature. The general conclusion is that when the Internet matures, it will increasingly reflect known social, economic and cultural relationships of the offline world, including inequalities.
This article uses panel data gathered in 2001 and 2005 to assess the gendered digital divide among researchers employed in three developing countries: Ghana, Kenya, and India (the state of Kerala). We move the digital divide discussion from an early focus on differentials in adoption and access to an assessment of use as measured by the diversity and intensity of Internet and e-mail activity. Using both bivariate and multivariate analyses, our results indicate clear gender disparities within an increasingly technologically saturated environment. Over time, both women and men report significant increases in access to and use of various technologies, yet even after controlling for other factors, women continue to be less technologically oriented than their male counterparts. Although women adopt new technologies around the same time and display similar patterns of e-mail use as men, they are less intense users of both e-mail and the Web, and they use the Web less diversely than men. We conclude by suggesting possibilities for future research and significant policy implications for the assessment of the digital divide in low-income areas.
The discussion about women’s access to and use of digital Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in developing countries has been inconclusive so far. Some claim that women are rather technophobic and that men are much better users of digital tools, while others argue that women enthusiastically embrace digital communication. This article puts this question to an empirical test. We analyze data sets from 12 Latin American and 13 African countries from 2005-08. This is believed to be the most extensive empirical study in this field so far. The results are surprisingly consistent and revealing: the reason why fewer women access and use ICT is a direct result of their unfavorable conditions with respect to employment, education and income. When controlling for these variables, women turn out to be more active users of digital tools than men. This turns the alleged digital gender divide into an opportunity: given women’s affinity for ICT, and given that digital technologies are tools that can improve living conditions, ICT represent a concrete and tangible opportunity to tackle longstanding challenges of gender inequalities in developing countries, including access to employment, income, education and health services.
The Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) are driving development. Their adoption and integration has become imperative for national development. This study investigated for comparison the ICTs literacy levels of boy and girl-students of senior secondary Grade III in Nigeria, using Enugu State as the case study. Although, ICTs literacy levels were generally poor, the boy-students were better all-round than the girl-students in ICTs literacy parameters tested, namely, ability to process words, access the web for browsing and managing web contents, thereby establishing existence of gender digital divide in the system. The implications of the poor literacy levels and the observed gender digital divide for development were given and recommendations were proffered for narrowing the divide.
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses are essential to summarize evidence relating to efficacy and safety of health care interventions accurately and reliably. The clarity and transparency of these reports, however, is not optimal. Poor reporting of systematic reviews diminishes their value to clinicians, policy makers, and other users.
Since the development of the QUOROM (QUality Of Reporting Of Meta-analysis) Statement—a reporting guideline published in 1999—there have been several conceptual, methodological, and practical advances regarding the conduct and reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Also, reviews of published systematic reviews have found that key information about these studies is often poorly reported. Realizing these issues, an international group that included experienced authors and methodologists developed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) as an evolution of the original QUOROM guideline for systematic reviews and meta-analyses of evaluations of health care interventions.
The PRISMA Statement consists of a 27-item checklist and a four-phase flow diagram. The checklist includes items deemed essential for transparent reporting of a systematic review. In this Explanation and Elaboration document, we explain the meaning and rationale for each checklist item. For each item, we include an example of good reporting and, where possible, references to relevant empirical studies and methodological literature. The PRISMA Statement, this document, and the associated Web site (http://www.prisma-statement.org/) should be helpful resources to improve reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
Issues related to the gender digital divide have been prominent in discussions of the information society. However, the paucity of statistical data on the subject makes it difficult, if not impossible, to make the case for the inclusion of gender issues in ICT policies, plans, and strategies to policymakers, particularly those in developing countries. This paper surveys available gender ICT statistics and indicators and makes recommendations for filling the gaps that exist.Few gender ICT statistics are available because many governments do not collect ICT statistics consistently and regularly, and rarely are the data disaggregated by sex. The best practices are generally found in developed countries, with most developing countries lagging behind.Recent work that sheds light on women, gender, and the information society includes a major six-country study on the gender digital divide in francophone countries of West Africa and Orbicom's 2005 research on women in the information society. Although major composite ICT indices do not publish gender and ICT statistics, the potential remains for them to do so, and some indices encourage others to enrich their work with gender data. (c) 2008 by The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Access to the new information and communication technologies (ICT) remains extremely unequally distributed across and within societies. While there have been a good deal of popular discussions about this “digital divide”, not much is known about the quantitative significance of its various determinants. By undertaking a set of cross-country regressions, the paper finds that income, education, and infrastructure play a critical role in shaping the divide. Based on this analysis, the paper also offers some policy suggestions as to how to promote a wider diffusion of ICT in poorer societies.
School and daycare closures due to the COVID‐19 pandemic have increased caregiving responsibilities for working parents. As a result, many have changed their work hours to meet these growing demands. In this study, we use panel data from the U.S. Current Population Survey to examine changes in mothers’ and fathers’ work hours from February through April, 2020, the period of time prior to the widespread COVID‐19 outbreak in the U.S. and through its first peak. Using person‐level fixed effects models, we find that mothers with young children have reduced their work hours four to five times more than fathers. Consequently, the gender gap in work hours has grown by 20 to 50 percent. These findings indicate yet another negative consequence of the COVID‐19 pandemic, highlighting the challenges it poses to women's work hours and employment.
Gender has been consistently controlled as a variable in usability and playability tests. However, there is no consensus on whether and how gender differences should influence the design of digital environments. According to some research, digital environments may be unintentionally designed especially for males as a result of the existing gender biases which risks reproducing gender-polarized culture in a computational field. This study attempts to highlight that females are still being negatively affected by existing gender stereotypes and prescribed gender identities despite relatively equal access and use of computer technology. This qualitative study aims to provide insights about the first-time user experience in a home environment of 16 middle school children in Turkey (8 males - 8 females), aged between 11 and 14 years, with a code learning game named “Code Combat”. The analysis is supported with complementary quantitative findings. The present study investigates the participants' conceptualizations and opinions toward coding concept and this specific coding game. Further, it explores how existing gender stereotypes and gender biased expectations impact their behaviors and attitudes in the context of game experience. Our results indicated that perceived computer competence and perceived coding difficulty had important effects on the participants’ performance relatedly with their gender identity. According to our findings, there are important gender differences to be found in our 9 constructs, namely; perceived computer competence, perceived coding difficulty, identification, perceived game difficulty, perceived success, level of enjoyment, level of anxiety, the likelihood of playing it another time and the likelihood of trying new features.
Purpose
This study aims to endeavor to explore the extent of gender digital divide(GDD) in Uttar Pradesh (U.P., IT-Hub of North India), a most populous state of India, with a particular focus on the first and second order of digital divide, including availability, access time and use of the internet.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors have adopted stratified multistage sampling procedure for this research and conducted an empirical study on the data set of 600 respondents of six districts of U.P. to perform the inter-regional analysis. Furthermore, χ² method has been used to reveal the factors responsible for the GDD among selected districts of UP.
Findings
Statistical results clearly indicate that out of 12 sub-districts, most of the districts suffered from first order as well as second order of GDD, and this gender disparity within an increasing digitization environment is due to the existence of exclusion from basic technological skills, social norms and financial constraints.
Practical implications
The results have implications for the U.P. Government in general and policymakers behind digitization projects in particular as well as the promoters of gender equality including researchers and fellows.
Originality/value
This study is the first to illustrate the orders of the digital gender gap in a developing economy such as India and to gain an insight into the factors behind it. This research will also consider a promising avenue for future work.
In India, men own around 70% of mobile phones, creating a gender digital divide for the most widely owned information and communication technology (ICT) in the world. This study investigates the factors responsible for the inability of 245 female slum-dwellers in India earning less than 15 or so on installments of $1 a month.
Economic barriers play the most significant role in precluding women from owning ICTs in developing nations. This qualitative study explores the factors responsible for creating economic barriers for 245 women in India, which prevent them from owning a mobile phone. Study findings reveal the specific ways in which cultural factors like (i) the long power distance between men and women, (ii) the gender role defined by Indian society for women, (iii) women's attitudes of avoiding uncertainty, and (iv) collectivistic practices, create economic barriers for the financially independent study participants. Due to the unfair economic disadvantages generated by the above cultural factors, it becomes challenging for the participants earning a little less than 15 or so on installments of $1 a month.
This paper explores the differences between boys and girls in their approach to ICT.
Data were gathered from students in the final grades of high school in the Swiss Canton Ticino
as part of a wider European project, with a particular focus on the potential uptake of a study or
professional career in ICT. Preliminary focus groups with teachers and interviews with women
with a job in ICT were followed by a quali-quantitative study which involved 539 students.
Results indicate that there are no big gender differences when it comes to ICT use and
perception. Small differences are found in the perception of the gender digital divide, while
relevant differences were found in the perception and values attached to future professional or
academic careers in ICT.
Digital technologies are becoming more pervasive in all areas of society. Enabling everyone to have access and capability to use the Internet and associated digital technologies, summed up in the term 'digital inclusion', is seen to have wide-ranging benefits to the individual, to the economy and to society. For older people, being digitally included can help them to maintain their independence, social connectedness and sense of worth in the face of declining health or limited capabilities, as well as also offering new opportunities to improve their quality of life. At present however, access to the technology and to the benefits is not equally distributed either between or within nations, and older people tend to be on the 'wrong' side of what is termed the 'digital divide'. Governments globally are developing strategies to promote digital inclusion and indeed Internet uptake is increasing steadily, including amongst older people. However, such strategies have focussed on getting people online, and there appears to be an assumption that once someone is online they will remain 'digitally engaged'. In fact statistics show that some users give up using the Internet, and there is emerging evidence that older people are more vulnerable to the factors which can lead to this outcome. The authors see this phenomenon as a potential but largely unrecognised 'fourth digital divide' which has serious implications for social inclusion. The objectives of this article are (a) to raise awareness of the phenomenon of digital disengagement by considering some of the emerging evidence, (b) to explore some of the potential implications of not recognising and therefore not addressing the needs of the digitally disengaged older population, and (c) to reveal the prevailing gap in knowledge which future research should address.
This article presents a case of the gender digital divide in the use of mobile phones in a small community of Latino immigrant farm workers in Southeast Ohio in the US. Contrary to the findings of previous studies that rural women around the world are using information and communi-cation technologies (ICTs) for empowerment, this research reveals that immigration status interacts with gender and class identities such that Latina immigrant women who work in horticulture nurseries face limits of access, use, and distribution of knowledge for their own purposes and needs. The findings suggest that mobile phones are not inherently empowering to women, and under specific circumstances such as un-documented migration, they can serve as a device that strengthens hierarchical power relations between women and men.
Objective. This paper evaluates differences in men's and women's presence on the Internet, testing for the presence of gender-specific causes for different rates of Internet use. Methods. The paper presents new survey data collected by the author in 1996, 1998, and 1999 showing trends in Internet use, and presents regression models of Internet access and use. Results. Two statistically significant gender gaps exist on the Internet: in access and in use. The access gap is not the product of gender-specific factors, but is explained by socioeconomic and other differences between men and women. The use gap is the result of both socioeconomics and some combination of underlying gender-specific phenomena. Conclusions. Around one-half of the "digital divide" between men and women on the Internet is fundamentally gender related. Several possible causes may explain this phenomenon.
The increase in prevalence of chronic disorders in modern societies has resulted in increasing organizational and financial
pressure on healthcare systems. The challenge of adequate care delivered to patients with chronic conditions, who want to
remain in their social context, promotes the search for effective models of care. Adequate use of information and communication
technology may be an appropriate response to this challenge. Chronic patients require repetitive interactions with the healthcare
system. High-quality care adhering to evidence-based medicine strategies must be delivered to a vast population of patients
in a continuous manner. The experience from studies and pilot implementations of information technology tools in specific
groups of patients suffering from chronic diseases indicates that considerable benefits may be gained related to improved
cost-effectiveness and simultaneously maintained quality of care. It seems that e-health strategies may help to fulfill two
contradictory requirements — provision of high-quality medical services and preservation of the cost-effective approach. Available
evidence supports the use of e-health solutions for care delivery. The results of trials based on the use of integrated IT-enhanced
model of care with focus on patient empowerment and better interdisciplinary team communication demonstrated improvement of
such outcome measures like hospitalization rate, frequency of ambulatory visits and level of quality of life in populations
of chronic patients. However, it must be emphasized that a new model of care based on the effective use of e-health solutions
cannot be implemented without adherence to legal, ethical and psychosociological requirements existing in the healthcare environment.
This study explores the differences in work commitment between Chinese male and female employees. We develop a model that specifies the major antecedents of job and organizational commitment in the Chinese workplace. We then examine whether the gender differences can be attributed to factors related to gender role ideology or unfavorable work conditions encountered by women. Several hypotheses are formulated and tested with a data set collected from 582 employees in Beijing. The findings reveal that employee work commitment is related to organizational support, job characteristics, and perceptions of gender discrimination. Further, it is found that the level of job commitment of women is lower than that of men, whereas the level of organizational commitment is the same for both sexes. The lower level of job commitment of women is due largely to their stronger perception of gender discrimination, receiving less challenging job assignments, and engaging in a low level of leader–member exchange. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
This paper presents a cross-country study on the determinants of information and communication technology (ICT) diffusion using multivariate analysis techniques to capture the relative and multidimensional character of digital divide. Using canonical correlation analysis, the differences detected between groups of countries both in terms of ICT patterns and in terms of the factors explaining each are compared. The results provide the ability to distinguish between different patterns of ICT adoption that can be explained primarily by variables associated with differences in development levels. In countries registering higher levels of ICT adoption, the digitalization pattern is explained by GDP, service sector, education, and governmental effectiveness. In contrast, in developing countries, population age and urban population are positively associated with the ICT adoption, while Internet costs impact negatively. The results might be useful in finding and implementing the most suitable telecommunication and development policies for each case.
This paper examines the evidence for the digital divide based on gender. An overview of research published in the last 20 years draws to the conclusion that females are at a dis- advantage relative to men when learning about computers or learning other material with the aid of computer-assisted software. The evidence shows that the digital divide affects people of all ages and across international boundaries. We suggest that the digital divide is fun- damentally a problem of computer anxiety whose roots are deep in socialization patterns of boys and girls and that interact with the stereotype of computers as toys for boys. A model of the digital divide is presented that examines gender stereotypes, attribution patterns, and stereotype threat as antecedents of computer anxiety. Computer anxiety in turn leads to differences in computer attitudes and computer performance. A number of suggestions are offered to reduce the impact of the digital divide.
Little data is available about East-European countries on Internet adoption and gender digital divide issues. Romania is a good case study given its past communist history and current developments, as well as Internet penetration. Students are the focus of the present research as they might provide the basis for further evolution trends. The results of a 275- subject research questionnaire indicate a complex situation as regards Internet adoption and usage: the digital divide is present as regards knowledge, ability and experience. Based on the data, other indicators and demographic information are evaluated and discussed. Gender differences seem limited for general access, but are significant for aspects such as time spent on-line/per week and knowledge (p
I modify the uniform-price auction rules in allowing the seller to ration bidders. This allows me to provide a strategic foundation for underpricing when the seller has an interest in ownership dispersion. Moreover, many of the so-called "collusive-seeming" equilibria disappear.
Må vi egentlig ha flere kvinner i IKT?
Corneliussen, H.G. and Seddighi, G. (2019), "Må vi egentlig ha flere kvinner i IKT?", Tidsskrift for
Kjønnsforskning, Vol. 43 No. 04, pp. 273-287.
Who We are and what We want: a feminist standpoint approach to defining effective ICT use for West Virginian women
Goh, D. (2013), "Who We are and what We want: a feminist standpoint approach to defining effective
ICT use for West Virginian women", Information Communication and Society, Vol. 16 No. 7,
pp. 1019-1041.