How does the law encourage digital literacy in women?

The evidence and indicators suggest that women face significant disadvantages in digital literacy. There is a gender digital divide characterised by differences in internet access, digital skills, and usage patterns. Women often have lower rates of internet access due to socioeconomic disparities, cultural barriers, and limited infrastructure. Disparities in digital skills and education, along with gender stereotypes and bias, contribute to lower digital literacy rates among women. Women are disproportionately affected by online harassment and safety concerns, limiting their engagement and development. Underrepresentation in the tech industry, limited access to opportunities, and a lack of role models further hinder women's digital literacy. 

What are the primary factors contributing to the gender digital divide? How can we improve internet access for women in underserved regions? What strategies can be implemented to enhance digital skills and education opportunities for women? How can we challenge and overcome gender stereotypes and biases that discourage women from pursuing digital literacy? Are there any legal measures that can be taken to ensure digital competence in women?

 

Digital Literacy and its Importance Today

Digital literacy is the ability to effectively use and navigate digital technologies, including internet platforms, social media, and mobile devices. It is crucial for individuals to thrive in a society where communication and access to information largely depend on digital platforms. It enables you to engage in digital environments, utilise information effectively, collaborate with others, and maintain your digital identity and well-being amidst the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In today's age, digital literacy is of paramount importance for individuals across all demographics, and particularly for women. With the increasing reliance on digital technologies for communication, access to information, and participation in various aspects of life, being digitally literate has become essential for full participation in society. Digital literacy equips individuals with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and utilise digital platforms, such as the internet, social media, and mobile devices, effectively.

For women specifically, digital literacy holds great significance. Historically, women have faced various barriers and inequalities in accessing education, employment, and resources. Digital literacy can serve as a powerful tool to bridge these gaps and empower women economically, socially, and politically. By becoming digitally literate, women gain the ability to access online resources, engage in e-commerce, enhance their educational and professional opportunities, and amplify their voices through digital platforms.

Digital literacy plays a vital role in empowering women to actively engage in the digital age, fostering their independence, self-confidence, and adaptability to a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Furthermore, digital literacy opens avenues for female entrepreneurship, enabling women to establish their own businesses and contribute to economic growth. Additionally, digital literacy serves as a powerful catalyst for promoting gender equality, challenging societal stereotypes and biases. It empowers women to share their stories, advocate for their rights, and connect with like-minded individuals globally, bridging the digital gender divide and ensuring their digital inclusion. By prioritising the promotion of digital literacy among women, we can unlock their immense potential and talent, leading to more inclusive and prosperous communities in the digital era.

 

The Present Status of Women

The statistics that follow highlight the digital gender gap, the underrepresentation of women in tech and STEM fields, workplace challenges faced by women, underreporting of online violence, and the economic consequences of excluding women from the digital world.

  • Men are 21% more likely to be online than women globally, rising to 52% in Least Developed Countries.
  • The gender gap in internet connectivity has only dropped half a percentage point since 2011, from 30.9% to 30.4%.
  • In 2019, 55% of men in the world had used the internet, while only 48% of women had, representing a digital gender gap of 303 million people.
  • Women represent only 28% of engineering graduates, 22% of artificial intelligence workers, and less than one third of tech sector employees globally.
  • Stereotypes about women's suitability for STEM fields discourage girls from pursuing these careers.
  • In the tech industry, there is a significant pay gap of 21%, considerably lower rates of promotion for women, workplace harassment reported by 48% of women, and 22% considering leaving the workforce due to treatment received.
  • Online violence is underreported, with only 1 in 4 women reporting violent acts to the platform where they occurred, and 14% reporting to a protective agency.
  • Exclusion of women from the digital world has led to a loss of $1 trillion from the GDP of low- and middle-income countries during the last decade, and this loss is expected to grow to $1.5 trillion by 2025.
  • 38% of women in 51 countries have personally experienced online violence.

 

Encouragement through Policies Worldwide

The current pace of encouraging digital literacy in women worldwide is lagging behind due to insufficient adoption of necessary policies by governments. The Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) has consistently found that gender receives the lowest scores among all policy areas covered in its Affordability Drivers Index. In the 2020 Affordability Report, it was revealed that over 40% of countries examined had no meaningful initiatives or policies in place to expand women's internet access.

To address this issue, the theme of International Women's Day (IWD) in 2023 was "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality." This theme aimed to recognize and celebrate the efforts of women and girls who are actively promoting transformative technology and digital education. The focus of IWD 2023 was to shed light on the widening economic and social inequalities caused by the digital gender gap and emphasise the importance of safeguarding the rights of women and girls in digital spaces, as well as addressing gender-based violence facilitated by online platforms and information and communication technologies (ICT).

The Indian Government has implemented multiple programs to promote digital literacy among its citizens, with a particular focus on women and girls. One notable program is the 'Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan (PMGDISHA)' as part of the Digital India campaign. It specifically targets rural areas, marginalised communities, and women and girls, with a goal of reaching 60 million rural households. As of December 8, 2022, more than 53% of enrolled participants, over 54% of those trained, and over 56% of those certified under PMGDISHA are women.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has called for comprehensive efforts to bridge the gender gap in the technology-driven world and emphasised the need for zero tolerance towards gender-based violence and harassment online.U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the urgency of the commission's focus, pointing out that women and girls are being left behind in the face of advancing technology. The document adopted by the commission stresses the importance of providing women and girls with equal access to quality education in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, information and communications technology, and digital literacy to enable their success in the rapidly evolving world.

 

Digital gender gap in Nepal

Gender gap in digital access exists in Nepal, with higher mobile phone ownership among males (91%) compared to females (79%). The government of Nepal has been investing in initiatives to promote digital and financial literacy nationwide. The Monetary Policy, 2022/23 includes the preparation of the 'Financial Literacy Framework 2022'. A four-year joint program was launched by the Government of Nepal, the Delegation of the European Union, and the United Nations to advance gender equality and empower women and girls in line with Nepal's national vision of a prosperous and happy Nepal by 2030. The program aims to strengthen equal rights and opportunities, engage with men and boys, families, and communities to promote gender-equitable behaviours, and support positive social and gender norms that promote Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE). The program aims to increase the agency and voice of women and girls in Nepal.

 

Conclusion

Digital literacy is essential for effective participation in today's society and utilising technology in multiple ways. It includes the ability to use devices, access the internet, engage in e-commerce, and operate software applications. Women's empowerment and employability are enhanced through digital literacy, which complements higher education.

The REACT framework, developed by the Web Foundation, offers a comprehensive approach for policymakers to promote women's inclusion in technology. It focuses on rights, education, access, content, and targets. Policymakers should ensure rights, provide skills training, make internet access affordable, promote local content, and establish clear policy targets to bridge the digital gender gap and drive accountability.

 

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