The tilted balance

Data gap bigger than gender digital divide

After examining the Internet for the availability of gender related data, it was found that useful gender disaggregated statistics is limited and old. The latest reports giving gender data was found to be of year 2002. Particularly gender and ICT data is scattered and almost non-existent. Mostly the data found was percentage female home Internet users country wise. As reported by Nancy Hafkin in one of her papers, “From both observation and anecdotal evidence, we know that there is a gender gap in the digital divide in several developed and many more developing countries, but there is virtually no data to establish it.”

Key findings on Gender and ICT

In Asia, women constitute 20 percent of programmers (mostly in lower skilled positions), while making up the majority of workers in data processing (especially outsourced work) (Nancy Hafkin 2003)

37% of women in the world have access to a PC and that one third of the world’s ICT market is in Asia (USD 3 trillion e-commerce market). ( Lucita Lazo, UNIFEM)

Percentage female home Internet users in India is 23 (NASCOM, 2000)

However, two thirds (876 million) of the world’s illiterates are women and many women are still unable to obtain techno access so there is much to be done in order to increase opportunities for these women. (Lucita Lazo, UNIFEM) According to a ‘Report on Progress of World’s Women 2002’ by UNIFEM, there has been progress in achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment around the world - but the pace is too slow in many regions. Sub-Saharan Africa has the lowest levels of achievement, primarily because of a devastating combination of national poverty, conflict and the effects of HIV/AIDS.

The complete report is temporarily available at http://www.i4donline.net/march05/fact.asp

Source: i4online – Information for Development / Centre for Science, Development & Media Studies [csdms.in]