Cutting the Gender Digital Divide: Empowerment of Women

through ICT Education

Dr. Shazia KhanPDF, DLIS, AMU, Aligarh

Zeba KhanamSRF, DLIS, AMU, Aligarh

CONTENT

1. •Introduction•Components

2. •Objectives•Discussion

3. •Suggestion •Conclusion

Introduction

What is ICT?Information & Communication Technology(ies)

is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications ...

WHY ICT?

Why ICT TO All?

Digital Divide

• The term “digital divide” refers to the differences in resources and capabilities to access and effectively utilize ICT for development that exist within and between countries, regions, sectors and socio-economic groups.

Gender Digital Divide

• Women and Girls taking less (negligible in some cases)benefit from access to information technology than Men and Boys referred to as Gender Digital Divide

The first Prime Minister of India Shri Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru once said

“To awaken the people, it is women who must be awaken; once she is on the

move, the family moves, the village moves and the nation moves”

(quoted in Pillai, 1995; p. 62).

Impact of ICT In Improving Women Condition

Policy Framework For Gender Equality Through ICT

Government’s Effort

Increasing Educational

Opportunities

Designing Technologies

appropriate to women's ‘ need

Ensuring a gender

perspective in ICT-based Projects

Distance Learning ICT

Programs

Ensuring Gender Sensitive ICT’s

Policy and Regulation

More Researches on gender

equality and ICT

Gender Barriers To Access ICT

Little awareness

Poor ICT infrastructure

Social and cultural barriers.

Lack of or limited computer skills

Time barriers

A Survey

S. No.

Purposes Frequency Percentage

1 Communication 2516%

2 Information 2919%

3 Searching for research materials

32

21%4 Information in different

aspects of life27

18%5 Booking Tickets 21 14%

6 Banking & Insurance purpose

18 12%

Purpose of using ICT Resources

Preferred Source of getting Information

S.No. Source Frequency Percentage

1 TV 1111%

2 PCs 1717%

3 Smart-phones 3334%

4 Internet 3435%

5 Radio 33%

S. No. General statements Stronglyagree

SomewhatAgree

Do notknow

Dis-agree

Cannot say

1 ICT has provided the women opportunity to work from home and earn 40% 43% 9% 3%

6%

2 ICT has helped women folk in India about what is happening in the country and out side

46% 37% 9% 6% 3%

3 women folk is deprived of ICT infrastructure 43% 34% 9% 11% 3%

4 Women still want to make use of ICTfor their next generation development

49% 46% 6% 0% 0%

5 Entry of women workforce in ICT industry is affected by their socio-economic and educational background

43% 40% 6% 9%0%

Attitudinal Statements

SUGGESTIONS

Women should be empowered by enhancing their skills, knowledge and access to information technology.

The women should be given training for PC management; they should be given hardware training and problem solving.

Relevant areas of interest need to be developed to bring women to ICTs so that they can then use these ICT tools to enhance their capabilities.There has been a great deal of interest in the potential benefits community networking may offer the developing world. This is particularly true of information and communication technology (ICT) projects that seek to bring emerging technologies like low cost computing and Internet access to households, social institutions and governments.

Orientation Programs

Tutorial Classes

Workshops to improve ICT Skills

Online Lectures

Role of Libraries In Providing ICT Skills

Maulana Azad Library’s Efforts

Digital Resource Centre

Separate Section for Girls with ICT Equipments

Well Trained Staff to provide Instructions

Regular Workshops and seminars related to women issues

Thank You