The digital divide within the women’s movement in Ghana: Implications for voice and inclusion

Abstract

ABSTRACT With the rise in Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), activists and scholars debate their effect on social movement inclusivity. Those in favor argue ICTs improve access to and voice within movements. Those against argue that the digital divide exacerbates existing inequalities. Yet, these debates often hinge on basic access to ICTs and do not consider the usefulness of their application. Drawing on over three years of fieldwork and 24 in-depth interviews among activists within the women’s movement of Ghana, West Africa, our findings complicate a binary notion of access. We highlight how a more effective, as opposed to formal, access to ICTs is needed for inclusion within social movements. We further demonstrate how organizations facing ICT restrictions often choose not to use them. This is not because activists lack motivation or understanding of ICT potential, but because they make pragmatic decisions to advance their priorities using more reliable means. This study demonstrates the enduring relevance of the digital divide, the importance of access quality for ICTs to increase social movement inclusion, and how movement culture can compound or challenge the exclusionary effects of ICTs. We conclude with suggestions to reduce inequalities within social movements.