Gender differences in the acceptance of information and communication technologies: the case of internet usage

Abstract

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are not evenly accessible for all the individuals in different regions or countries. Several factors including income, education, literacy levels, race, ethnicity and gender influence this disparity. The gender digital divide is still present in both the developed and developing countries. The generally negative perceptions of women regarding the utilisation of ICTs prevent them from participating and benefitting in the new information society. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of gender difference on internet users' beliefs and usage behaviours. The results revealed that men's assessments of ease of use, usage enjoyment and Behavioural Control (BC) were higher than that of women's. The findings of this study suggest that researchers and practitioners should take into consideration gender differences during the development, validation, implementation and control stages of internet acceptance theories, e-commerce practices and distance education alternatives.