Gender and E-Service in CEE and the CIS

Abstract

Information and communication technology is used today as a tool for reducing all kinds of poverty, promoting good governance, and facilitating sustainable human development. NGOs and other practitioners call this ICTD. One example of ICTD is to use different software, e-services, to promote good governance, business and reduce income and non-income poverty. However, there is a risk of ICT imposing new divides. The gender digital divide is a severe and increasing problem. The gender digital divide is the problem of ICTs, regardless of regional variations, affecting men and women differently. Women in most regions face barriers in benefiting from the development of ICT. During the past few years, the ICT and gender movement and research on the topic has grown globally, but in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) it has remained weak and without recognition (Simerska & Fialova, 2004). It is important to ask whether women in CEE and the CIS are using the new services and what roles women play within the growing e-service in business and governance in the region. This article describes the situation on women and ICTs in the CEE and CIS and will additionally highlight the potential of ICTs in promoting gender equality.