Who benefits from ICTs? Who is dictating the course of ICTs? Is it possible to harness ICTs to serve larger goals of equality and justice? Dramatic changes brought about by ICTs have created new economic and social opportunities the world over. Their use, however, continues to be governed by existing power relations. Amidst this inequality are individuals and organisations that are working tirelessly to use these technologies to further gender equality and social justice
The report argues that far-reaching changes towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ICT arena are needed at every level ( international, national and programme). Engendering ICTs is not merely about greater use of ICTs by women. It is about transforming the ICT system. This involves:
Governments building ICT policies with strong gender perspectives and engaging with civil society and gender and ICT experts on these areas.
International fora such as WSIS being used to challenge northern and corporate dominance of the ICT arena.
Clear gender strategies being deployed through design, in the implementation and evaluation of ICT projects and programmes.
Collecting information with sex-disaggregated statistics and gender indicators on access to, use of and content of ICTs, on employment and on education.
Consideration of gender issues in: ICT/telecommunications policy; representation in telecommunications/ICT decision-making; and the differential impact of telecommunications/ICTs on men and women.
To make these happen, gender equality advocates need to storm the ICT arena in the untiring ways we have seen them engage in before.
The report argues that far-reaching changes towards gender equality and women’s empowerment in the ICT arena are needed at every level ( international, national and programme). Engendering ICTs is not merely about greater use of ICTs by women. It is about transforming the ICT system. This involves:
Governments building ICT policies with strong gender perspectives and engaging with civil society and gender and ICT experts on these areas.
International fora such as WSIS being used to challenge northern and corporate dominance of the ICT arena.
Clear gender strategies being deployed through design, in the implementation and evaluation of ICT projects and programmes.
Collecting information with sex-disaggregated statistics and gender indicators on access to, use of and content of ICTs, on employment and on education.
Consideration of gender issues in: ICT/telecommunications policy; representation in telecommunications/ICT decision-making; and the differential impact of telecommunications/ICTs on men and women.
To make these happen, gender equality advocates need to storm the ICT arena in the untiring ways we have seen them engage in before.
Publication date
Year of publication
2004
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