WASHINGTON: In recent years, the digital landscape has become an integral part of our lives, offering opportunities for learning, engagement, and economic participation.
However, a concerning gender digital divide is impeding the full potential of the internet, particularly for girls and young women. A new report sheds light on the deeply entrenched gender norms, biases, and perceptions that are adversely affecting their online experiences and access to information and work.
Conducted in over half a dozen countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and India, the report is based on a survey of more than 10,000 users aged 14-21 and their parents. It reveals that girls face constant monitoring and are often labelled as vulnerable and incompetent online, leading to a crisis of confidence. Consequently, girls adopt conservative online behaviour, creating barriers to freely connecting with others and sharing personal information.
The gender digital divide persists despite global efforts, as highlighted by a UNICEF study indicating a gender parity ratio of 71 in 54 countries, indicating that for every 100 adolescent boys and young men using the internet, only 71 adolescent girls and young women do. Additionally, studies have found that women experience higher rates of online abuse, driving them to disengage from social media platforms.
The report further highlights the impact on girls’ self-perception and their ability to use digital tools for social, educational, and intellectual pursuits. Girls, restricted by biases and fear of abuse, do not perceive themselves as tech-savvy or consider the internet as a space meant for them, perpetuating a vicious cycle of avoidance and exclusion.
Mitali Nikore, a gender policy specialist at research group Nikore Associates, emphasizes that these behavioral patterns online can spill over into the workplace, limiting women’s confidence to showcase their skills and hindering their professional growth and access to potential revenue-generating opportunities.
To address this critical issue, the report suggests a multi-faceted approach. Firstly, efforts should focus on improving smartphone access for girls and young women and promoting digital literacy programs. Additionally, it is essential to challenge and eliminate discriminatory gender norms. Girls should be actively engaged in the creation of digital products tailored to their needs and interests, promoting a sense of ownership and empowerment.
Initiatives like the artificial intelligence-enabled chatbots developed by Girl Effect in South Africa and India, designed to provide accurate information on general health and sexual wellbeing for girls, demonstrate the potential of involving girls in the development of digital solutions.
While legislative efforts, such as Britain’s Online Safety Act and the proposed Kids Online Safety Act in the United States, play a role in protecting children online, the report underscores the importance of involving girls and young women in co-creating solutions. Adolescent girls have valuable insights and ideas that can inform the functions, experiences, and strategies necessary to create a safer and more accessible internet for all. By empowering girls in the digital realm, we can bridge the gender digital divide and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future online.
