Information and communication technologies (ICTs)

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The rapid global spread of information and communication technologies (ICTs), and particularly the proliferation of mobile internet devices, is redefining not only the realms of information and communication, but the very nature of social structures and institutions. This global ‘information society’ or ‘network society’ is not gender neutral; it has different implications for people of different genders, of all age groups, and for the relationships between them. It is therefore vital to begin reflecting more critically on how ICTs are changing the nature of gender relations in social, political, economic and cultural landscapes. While it is important to recognise their potential for transforming gender power relations and empowering women, it is essential that we do not put all our faith in ICTs to ‘solve’ the problem of gender inequalities.

 

Find out more: 

IT for change

IT for Change (ITfC) works for the effective use of ICTs in a way which promotes socio-economic change in the global South, from an equity, social justice and gender equality point of view. The NGO is based in Bengaluru, India.

www.itforchange.net

Association for Progressive Communications

The Association for Progressive Communications (APC) Women’s Rights Programme is uses ICTs for women’s empowerment, promoting gender equality in the design, implementation, access and use of information and communication.

www.apc.org

Anacaonas

The Spanish language Anacaonas website has a section dedicated to Gender and ICTs, exploring how the potential of increased access and connectivity to ICTs could transform power relations and the question of access to ICT are central to the development agenda

www.anacaonas.net/tic

Observ'action

Oberv'action has a collection of news, research and other resources on the effects of ICTs on gender relations, in the French language. It highlights that the use of ICTs remain governed by existing power relations, in which women often find themselves disadvantaged. 

www.observaction.org/category/genre-et-t-i-c

Our Cutting Edge Pack

Gender and ICTs (English)

Who benefits from information and communication technologies (ICTs)? ICTs have created new economic and social opportunities the world over. The positive changes brought about by ICTs, however, have not touched all of humanity.

Kit Actu’ « Genre et TIC » (Francais)

Qui bénéficie des technologies d’information et de communication (TIC) ? Les TIC ont fait naître de nouvelles opportunités économiques et sociales dans le monde entier. Cependant, les changements positifs engendrés par les TIC n’ont pas touché l’ensemble de l’humanité.

Canasta básica sobre género y TIC (Español)

¿Quiénes se benefician de las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación (TIC)? Las TIC han creado nuevas oportunidades económicas y sociales en todo el mundo. Sin embargo, los cambios positivos producidos por las TIC no han llegado a toda la humanidad.

Gender equality in the information society: a review of current literature and recommendations for policy and practice

This brief, which updates the 2004 Cutting Edge Pack, critically assesses recent research on gender and ICTs, adopting a perspective that draws from the conceptual frameworks of information society, 'network society' and 'knowledge society' studies. Changes brought about by the network society mean it is important to rethink some foundational concepts of gender and social transformation, particularly in relation to questions of identity, community, knowledge, and public and private spheres. New ‘virtual’ spaces and relationships mean these concepts can no longer be understood in terms of fixed, physical places and relationships - rather they need to be seen as flexible, constantly in flux and affected by diverse influences.

ICTs for feminist movement building activist toolkit

This toolkit, from Just Associates, draws on the experience and contexts of women activists in southern Africa and beyond. It aims to assist activists to think through their communication strategies in a way that supports movement building.

From impunity to justice: domestic legal remedies for cases of technology-related violence against women

The research, by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) examines the availability and effectiveness of existing domestic legal remedies for survivors of technology-related violence against women (VAW) to access justice and to prevent such violence from occurring.

More reading in our resources database

News

Illustration of a smiling woman celebrating Sulá Batsú's 10 year anniversary
03 Nov 15

‘ICT´s have to be a tool for all the people’

Kemly Camacho is the General Director of BRIDGE partner Sulá Batsú who celebrate their tenth anniversary this year. In this interview talks about the cooperative’s work on knowledge management in Central America and why she thinks computer engineering is a social science.
09 Oct 14

BRIDGE joins new open data project

On Friday 10 October, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) will launch the Oriel Open Knowled

27 Nov 13

Public/Private: Define lines to Take Back the Tech!

The post is from Sara Baker, coordinator for the Take Back the Tech! campaign.

01 Nov 13

UN Women campaign exposes how the internet thinks

Quiet, passive, and disciplined – women should know their place according to popular internet searchers highlighted in an alarming

09 Sep 13

Taking on the Twitter trolls

One of the strengths of social media is the ability to interact with anyone, from famous musicians to unknown bloggers on the other side of the world.