GENDER And ICT Opportunities And Challenges

The human rights based, technical and social implications brought by new information and communication technologies (ICT) are not gender neutral. Existing power relations in society determine who benefits from and shapes the content, development and use of ICT. Human rights, including women’s rights, are as important online as they are offline. If gender dimensions of ICT are identified and addressed, ICT can be a powerful catalyst for political and social empowerment of women, and a tool to promote gender equ,ality. This brief gives a short introduction to gender and ICT, provides examples of interventions and gives a quick guide to how gender can be integrated into ICT programmes for development and a tool for change. A GENDER PERSPECTIVE ON ICT ICT contribute broadly to readjusting social rules for interaction, offering new channels for establishing and accessing connections and relationships. Globally ICT transforms the way production is organized and information shared.ICT offers flexibility of time and space, a way out of isolation, and a potentially increased access to knowledge and productive resources even in remote locations. But ICT may also contribute to discrimination and reinforce existing inequalities.As all aspects of human interaction ICTare gendered. Today the gap, the “digital divide”,between women and men regarding access to ICT, and challenges when using the same is obvious.The access to, content and use of ICT are connected to gender norms and inequalities, as well as to efforts questioning and changing these. ICT has the potential to alleviate some of the barriers faced by women. This includes illiteracy, poverty, time scarcity, hindrances of mobility and cultural and religious taboos. ICT also have the potential of providing tools that may break constraints on voice,particularly public voice, and social control including surveillance of women’s physical and social mobility.