THE DIGITAL GENDER GAP: ARE WOMEN LAGGING BEHIND IN THE DIGITAL WORLD?
Throughout history, women have faced discrimination and considerable inequality compared to men, whether it is in education, social protection, political activity, or employment. In today's world, the situation is somewhat better, but we are still far from the equality we are trying to achieve.
The Internet, in an ideal scenario, should open up the world to us, to provide us all with equal opportunities to access any information we are looking for, to connect through the network, regardless of where we come from. Our differences should be reduced in the digital space. The Internet should be a world in which the gender gap is somehow bridged, a world in which men and women keep pace, and where long-standing inequalities are overcome, regardless of geographic location, class, or race. The reality is, unfortunately, different.
Digital gender (in)equality
According to data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the proportion of women using the Internet and having digital awareness globally is 48%, compared to 58% of men.
The digital gender gap has widened in recent years, due to the rapid growth in the number of male users coming from developing countries. Between 2013 and 2019, the online gender gap in America was around zero, however, in Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and the Middle East, the gender gap continues to grow.
Various barriers prevent women and girls from going online, including expensive handsets and data tariffs, social norms that discourage women and girls from being online, fears around privacy, safety, and security, and a lack of money.
Also, research has shown that the reason for not using the Internet among the female part of the population is a lack of understanding, i.e. inadequate education, but, unfortunately, even when women, with adequate knowledge and resources, are given access, there is a fear of online violence that is all present on the networks.
Online violence against women
Although both men and women can experience some form of online violence, in most cases it is gender-based and directed toward women and girls. Today, anyone can be a bully from the comfort of their own home and hide behind the screen of fake profiles, without having to bear the consequences, which is a devastating fact for any society.
Online violence against women in the era of digitization is increasingly present and occurs in many forms such as cyberstalking, sexual harassment, and manipulation of personal data, but also unauthorized use and abuse of materials, such as photos and videos. Online violence often leads to blackmail, extortion, threats, and even revenge pornography, which affects the psychological and physical health of the victim, and primarily causes fear for one's own safety, as well as harm to reputation and dignity. These forms of violence often lead to the withdrawal of women from the Internet and the denial of their human rights and are major obstacles to achieving gender equality.
Bridging the digital gender gap
Digital gender equality is of crucial importance for creating a healthier society, and also for strengthening the economy. It was the Covid-19 pandemic that proved the importance of digital literacy as a large part of business moved online, but some research shows that during the pandemic, women were more likely to stay offline as they quit their jobs (or were fired) to take on the traditional female role, the role of taking care of the family. It is important that governments and companies take clear steps to remove barriers to the ultimate goal of gender equality in the online world, which should accompany the agenda for gender equality in the offline world in which we live.
Political recommendations
There are 5 steps recommended for governments to reduce gender inequality online, as well as improve and advance women's rights.
- Collect and publish gender data in the technology sector
- Enabling a better and more thoughtful connection via the Internet
- Promote digital skills and ICT education for women and girls
- Support women’s participation in technology development and ICT innovation
- Safeguard the online privacy of women and girls
Women and girls need safe access to the web, so they don't fear for their safety and rights. Digital technologies cannot automatically break down gender barriers or solve the deep-rooted problem of gender inequality. Still, it is important that we also raise awareness of this problem in the digital space and build a world where women will feel equal and safe.
Author: Katarina Stanković, Content Manager
https://itu.foleon.com/itu/measuring-digital-development/gender-gap
https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-cyber-bullying
