Abstract
While access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) such as mobile phones and the internet has increased over the last couple of years, new digital inequalities also continue to emerge regarding gender, socioeconomic backgrounds, and different levels of digital literacies and education. The gendered nature of access to and use of digital technologies shapes opportunities for many African women, influences the process of social inclusion, and thus exacerbates social inequalities. This essay interrogates the interrelationships of gender, new digital technologies, and socioeconomic development among marginalized groups in different contexts in countries on the continent of Africa, focusing on the rising digital inequities among marginalized communities. I make the case for the collection of disaggregated data and comparative studies of gendered digital inequities as important for understanding and bridging gaps. By focusing on marginalization rather than poverty, I examine the relationships between people, locales, and institutions rather than assets alone. By examining how distributed groups connect through digital tools, I hope to raise some important questions about the nature of digital inequities in today’s networked society and address gender empowerment through inclusive and research-based ICT policy making and practice.
Highlights
The digital practices and cultures that mark today’s convergent digital landscape have changed remarkably
I reflect on gender and information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development (ICT4D) scholarship in Africa by drawing from empirical studies over the past decade
I will outline some of the challenges and implications for gender and ICT4D research and practice going forward, reflecting on the contradictions, opportunities, and challenges presented by our collective digital futures that are both local and global
Summary
The digital practices and cultures that mark today’s convergent digital landscape have changed remarkably. There is a growing body of work on how everyday mobile phone practices are reshaping development discourses, gendered interactions, and mobilities within the context of existing global and local power structures (Burrell 2014; Ling and Horst 2011; Steeves and Kwami 2017; Tacchi, Kitner, and Crawford 2012; Wallis 2011, 2013). These studies help illuminate the interplay of marginality, mobilities, and social networks as reflected in mobile phone practices and livelihood strategies in various contexts. Addressing gender empowerment through ICTs requires an approach that considers how multiple voices can be empowered in ways that strengthen communicative practices and ensure inclusiveness of marginalized groups in ICT policy making
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