Empowering Women’s Participation in ICT: Role of Universities

*Ms. Priya Pathak

**Ms. Swati Gupta

Article Published in: EduTracks (ISSN: 0972-9844), Dec’2010, Vol. 10, No.4, Page No. 25-27.

It must be appreciated that a nation that does not respect its women cannot be described as a
civilized nation at all. The role of women is key for socio-economic development and, therefore,
women participation in society should be promoted.
Empowerment as a multi-dimensional, gradual process by which women become
aware of their subordinate position and the power structures at play in their environment; then
they go ahead to do something to overcome these constraints. This process enables women to
become self-reliant and gain control over their own lives, and act on issues they consider
important but without infringing upon the rights of others; this process may also lead to
‘collective’ change. (Rowlands 1997 and Freire 1972).
ICT (Information and Communication Technology) can play a major role in women
empowerment. ICT comprise a complex and heterogeneous set of good application and services
used to produce, process, distribute and transform information. ICT embody a full range of old
and new technologies such as e-mail and internet services, telephones, fax, scanner, printer,
photocopiers, radio, television and mobile. As defined ICT is a tools that can enable the
participation of poor women and men in economic and civic life and help them to move out of
poverty.

* Ms. Swati Gupta, Research Scholar, Faculty of Education, Banasthali University, Banasthali, e-mail-
swati_1985@rediffmail.com
**Ms. Priya Pathak, Research Scholar, Faculty of Education, Banasthali University, Banasthali, e-mail-
Pearl171985@yahoo.com
 ICT (Information and Communication Technology) can reduce discrimination and
empower women for all type of activities. Since information, ability to communicate and to
enroll in decision-making processes are the basic pillars of empowerment and Empowered
women is be one of the most effective drivers of development, As mentioned in the Beijing
Declaration “ICT is a powerful tool that women could use for mobilization, information
exchange and empowerment."
Many countries have experienced rapid changes in the information and
telecommunication sectors, which they call it as ‘ICT revolution’, and this could play a
resounding role in transforming the quality of life.
It is increasingly apparent though, the benefit of ICT is unevenly distributed between
and within countries to a large extent because of the differences in access and the knowledge-
base needed for their optimal use. There countries to be evidence of a “Digital Divide” between
those who have and those who have no access to ICT or the knowledge and training required to
use them. The danger of growing digital divide is not only due to a lack of access, resulting from
economic or geographical situations, but also because of limited training opportunities to adapt
to the new technologies. So, there remains a small minority of society that has access to the
global ICT network, and while this number is expected to grow, the divide may continue to
widen if the primary concerns of differential access and benefits are not addressed.
This uneven distribution is seemingly gender-based too. Women are certainly not using
ICT optimally. Therefore, they seen to have been left behind or set aside, and especially the rural
based women remain on the underprivileged side of this divide.
For example According to world development report (2000-2001), women constitute only 22%
of internet users in Asia, 38% of those in Latin America. In another example according to the
report researched by NASSCOM( National Association of Software and Service Companies) in
June-July 2002, the number of internet users in India was 3,700,000 and the proportion of males
to female was 77:23 and women’s employment rate in ICT- enable services in India is 37%.
Now let’s take a view of women’s literacy levels- women’s enrollment in
professional and technological education are even lower in most part of the world. Women
constituted only 1.6% of all engineering students in Kenya and 2.1% in Ghana.
Source-Engineering Development Report and Gender status, World Bank.
Therefore here some questions arise automatically.
• What are the causes of low participation of women in ICT?
• How can universities encourage and empower women’s participation in ICT?

Causes of low participation of women in ICT- There are so many causes and barriers that
affect the participation of women in ICT that must be understood and addressed. They include-

v Low rate of access to ICT in undeserved and rural areas, particularly by women, especially
when they are located in internet cafe’s, either because going to such places alone may be
socially inappropriate in some cultures or because the cafe’s are placed in areas where
women may feel concerned about their personal safety.
v Women in the science, engineering and technology sector do not receive equal salary for
equal work. A preview of a survey to be released by the Association of Professional
Engineers, Scientists and Managers Australia (APESMA) found more than 25% of
professional women reported a salary disparity with their male counterparts.
v Extremely low number of women in position of decision making in the ICT areas.
v Women and girls on an average receive less education and training, especially in
developing countries, and therefore may lack the language and other skills required for
engaging in activities leading to creation for the Information society.

v Female students tend to be less sensitive, less interested in computers, to have less positive
views about the values of computer and anxiety and lack of confidence in their computer
abilities.(Volman,2001 and Tomte,2008 )
v Women show less self –efficacy and task value beliefs which influence the quality of
learning and are in predictors of students future academic and career choices.(Pintrich and
Decroon)

Effort, Persistence,
Use of effective strategies

Positive self-efficacy
And value feelings
Success
 Avoidance of challenge,
Reduced effort, ineffective strategies

Lower self-efficacy Failure

And value feelings

v Low rate of computer literacy and pre-requisite skills for ICT use.
v Low participation of women in the development of ICT and technology applications.
v Lack or absence of co-operation.
v Poor networks in rural areas.
v Low availability of appropriate technology relevant to specific conditions. Given the
characteristics of rural women and men, such as having little or no schooling, speaking
only local language among others, they are among the last to reap any benefits from ICT.
v Lack or absence of evaluation mechanisms within gender and other development
programs.
Role of Universities-Universities can play important role for women by encouraging them to
participate in ICT and overcome these barriers to a maximum extent. There are some
recommendations which are given below-

v Create awareness in women not only about ICT but also how it can be useful in
identifying and articulate their needs.
v Bring about attitudinal change in society as well as in women, including sensitiveness,
concern towards women’s issues related to ICT.
v Establish partnership with community, NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) and
industry to develop gender sensitive ICT projects and programs.
A CD-ROM “Rural Women in Africa Ideas for earning money” is an example of a
deliberate effort to increase women’s participation in the use of ICT. CD-ROM has
empowered the women, by increasing access to information and to learn new ideas, by
giving them knowledge, skill and confidence. By using CD-ROM women have become
more sociable, willing to discuss own situations and together, come up with solutions to
help reduce poverty.
v Consultation at every stage of development should be given. It gives the beneficiaries
confidence to participate and contribute to their own cause. It also brings in the aspect of
relevance and feedback for improvement.
v Beside their conventional role, the universities have to play a positive role in building up
confidence, self-reliance, articulation and leadership qualities among women students.
v Generating of high level professional courses which make option more diversified for
women, while at the same time, retaining traditional options. Universities will have to
design and offer courses, which are adaptable to new situations.
v Conduct researches on issues related to women in deprived and weaker sections for
maximum use of ICT and bring out the relevant information programmes at grass-root for
the knowledge of others. Women is actual problems should be the central focus of
researches.
v Effort must be made to interact with wider society to develop training programmes such
as with industry, information technology centers. Training should be carefully assessed
for removing negative images and references to women.
v Prepare women for all top level position so that high number of women will be in
position of decision making in the ICT sectors.
v Promote the use of ICT as a tool to increase general literacy and improve basic education
for women. ICT can contribute to increase primary and secondary education for girls, to
ensure access to reproductive employment in the ICT and related sector.
v On-going monitoring and evaluation of women’s related issues, programmes, projects
and its implementation in universities through researches and workshops, seminars.
v Universities can generate some interdisciplinary courses and ICT can be an important
part of these courses.
v ICT courses to be designed and redesigned for mixed population, i.e. urban and rural.
v Women’s concern is incorporated as foundation course.
v Give leadership training to women at all levels.
v Give information and training in new technology with or without literacy.

Conclusions- Low participation of women in the area of ICT is a critical problem and there
are so many causes like socio-cultural barriers, technology and applications related barriers
etc.But these barriers can be minimized by using and developing some guidelines. These
guidelines can help the universities in empowering women and maximize the awareness,
competence, and participation in the area of ICT.

References-

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