Women And Digital Divide

Information technology increasingly permeates all aspects of life. In the last ten years, home computers have become, in some sectors of society, nearly as commonplace as telephones, and Internet access has become an apparent necessity for inclusion in mainstream society. As a consequence of this social transformation, new policy dilemmas have arisen and certain entrenched policy dilemmas have gained heightened importance. One such policy issue that has taken on both a new dimension and a higher level of gravity is the threatened marginalization of women in the information technology economy. Many women in developing regions remain marginalized or excluded from basic education and life skills training. Many more are completely illiterate. The few that do enjoy access to basic education are increasingly finding themselves on the wrong side of a gender-based digital divide.