The Digital Gender Divide – Guyana Chronicle

THE “digital gender divide” is a term used to refer to the unequal opportunities for access to the Internet between men and women. It can also be used as an umbrella term when discussing digital literacy related to gender and development. This divide is evident through current statistics from recent reports. In low- and middle-income regions like South Asia, women are 23% less likely than their male counterparts to access an internet connection. Compared to men, women are less likely to have basic digital skills such as sending an email. In most countries, women are 30% less likely to study STEM, and in some regions only 20% of women make up the workforce.

These statistics give a clear picture of the digital divide between men and women. It also shows how far ahead men have in the economy or job market compared to women. It’s quite unfortunate. Most modern workplaces require digital skills. This restricts women’s participation in the labor market when they are unable to meet this demand. This limits their ability to earn money and also limits their job choices. Some jobs that require freelance or remote work will be out of reach if women aren’t digitally savvy. Women, in general, have fewer economic and educational opportunities. If a woman earns less than a man, she is less likely to purchase smartphones or other digital devices. If a woman’s community faces barriers that prevent her from receiving an education, then she is less likely to have the digital skills needed to use digital devices. Women also need more representation and role models in STEM fields. The more women join STEM, the more other women could become digitally literate.

Women in rural communities are also increasingly underrepresented. These communities, similar to our homes in Guyana, do not have access to the internet or devices to begin with. Expanding a geographic barrier can be very costly, as is the case with the tropical forests of Guyana. So women and men in these communities cannot be digitally connected simply because of where they live. Although cultural barriers are obvious reasons why women do not have access to the Internet, digital programs and review of policies regarding women and development are essential to combat this problem. The role of women in society is changing, moving from the traditional approach of staying at home to being active in the workforce. Unfortunately, the odds are often stacked against women. The era of digitalization is no different with these probabilities. The world is now technologically advanced in ways we never imagined. The use of AI, robots, drones, new IT systems and advanced smartphones have propelled global development.

I do not intend to stand idly by and see another obstacle stand in the way of women’s development. This is why I urge all policymakers and program managers to seriously consider more digital literacy programs targeting women. Let’s encourage more girls to join technology streams in secondary schools. Let’s raise wages in predominantly female jobs. Let’s make women aware of the importance of digital technology and how it can be used as a tool for their own success. According to Kimberly Bryant, “Women are both talented and innovative thinkers and tend to use computing to solve larger problems.” Women can be the agents of change we aspire to be; to do this we simply need the right space, environment and empowerment.