Communications of the ACM
Study: Women Lagging in Internet Adoption in Many Countries
Internet cafes in some regions are male-dominated and women a rarity.
Credit: SokSeH SaNa SiNi
Women and girls are falling behind men in terms of Internet access in many parts of the world, causing them to miss out on the economic and social benefits of being online, according to a recent Intel report. In the developing world, there are about 25 percent fewer women than men online. In some areas the gap is even wider, with a 43 percent gap in sub-Saharan Africa, a 34 percent gap in the Middle East and North Africa, and a 33 percent gap in South Asia.
Promoting better Internet access for women is a good way to improve economies says the U.S. Department of State's Melanie Verveer. "The dramatic differential in access to the Internet results in fewer opportunities for women to reach their full potential and a loss of significant economic and social contributions to their families and communities," Verveer says.
Intel recommends a new global effort to get more women and girls online, with governments and private industry working together to bridge the gender gap. Intel's Shelly Esque says part of the solution is educating women about what is available online and targeting information to groups who need it.
From IDG News Service
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