Preservation of cultural heritage, digital technology and cyberspaces: women’s active involvement, opportunity and empowerment

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to highlight the involvement and empowerment of women in cultural heritage preservation, in particular their use of digital technology applications and online platforms. Design/methodology/approach This paper reviews the relevant literature and discusses specific examples of women using digital technology and cyberspaces for cultural heritage preservation. Findings Cyberspaces and digital technology present opportunities for women to be actively involved and empowered in cultural heritage preservation. Examples of this involvement are digitization activities and projects, using digital spaces to discuss issues related to cultural heritage preservation, and transmitting information related to cultural heritage preservation via online platforms and channels. But digital skills and competency training are needed to strengthen and support women’s active involvement in the cyberspace arena, and governments and other stakeholders such as academic or public libraries could collaborate to implement this training. Originality/value Although there are several studies that discuss women’s roles in cultural heritage preservation, the literature review revealed that few studies focus on the empowerment and participation of women in the use of digital technology and cyberspace in preserving cultural heritage. By discussing specific examples, this paper adds to the literature and supports the active involvement of women in participating in cultural heritage preservation, especially in the context of digital technology applications and cyberspaces. Leveraging digital technologies to help preserve intangible cultural heritage that has been passed down from generation to generation at the family level is also recommended.