Bridging The Gap: Digital Transformation And Gender Action
The Gender Gap Reports 2022 released by the World Economic Forum ranks South Asia as the lowest out of the eight regions globally with a performance of about 69 per cent of their gender gaps closed. The report also highlights COVID-19 set gender parity back by a generation and a weak recovery isn’t compensating for it, delaying the time to achieve gender parity to 132 years. As India assumes the G20 presidency, there is an opportunity now for a region-specific policy-level intervention to strike the most ideal balance of various SDGs in India and other developing nations.
As per the Sustainable Development 2030 agenda in implementing gender-responsive programs, the focus is not only on gender equality, i.e., SDG 5, but to show how it contributes to progress in all seventeen SDGs. It is well established that gender equality is the enabler and accelerator for all SDGs. For example, many pieces of research show that in alleviating poverty, and providing better education to children, women contribute more, which is linked to SDG 1. Women also play an important role in producing food, food processing, and distribution which meets agricultural productivity & nutrition, which is the target of SDG 2. Equal access to decent work is a crucial measure of inclusive & sustainable growth aligned with SDG 8. To Meet future global challenges, more participation of women in science, technology, and innovation is very important, which is the target of SDG 9. Equal rights and safety in public spaces are also very important to achieve SDG 10. In this way, gender equality that features as a stand-alone goal is in fact integrated with every Sustainable Goal.
Elkington’s theory of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), or 3P (People, Planet, and Profit) in 1994 brings to the fore the challenge of integrating the three dimensions of sustainability: economic profit, society, and environment, and taking a systemic view of all SDGs to create the maximum overall impact. In this regard, the authors feel an appropriate articulation of digital transformation can provide a multiplier effect in reducing the gender gap.
While digital transformation gets the limelight, many studies have often found this to have contributed to gender inequality in many countries. Sadly, not many deliberations are seen on the trade-off between digital transformation and gender inequality. The adoption of new technology can impact gender inequality positively or negatively, depending on various factors. On the positive side, new technology can create new opportunities for women, particularly in existing male-dominated fields.
With the growth of the digital economy, women can have greater participation in the workforce and start their businesses, regardless of geographical barriers. However, new technology adoption can also exacerbate gender inequality, particularly if technology is designed without consideration of the needs of women.
For example, if recruitment or loan approval algorithms are biased against women, they could be unfairly excluded from opportunities. Additionally, new technology can also increase the demand for certain skills which are traditionally dominated by men. This leads to a widening gender gap in the workforce, particularly in industries where these skills are in high demand.
Overall, the impact of new technology adoption on gender inequality is complex and heterogeneous. So, it’s very crucial to contemplate the prospective positive & negative impacts of new technologies on gender equality and to work towards ensuring that the process of digital adoption is designed, developed, and implemented to promote gender equity.
Digital platforms can enable women entrepreneurs to access new markets and reach customers difficult to reach otherwise. However, digital transformation can also reinforce existing gender inequalities. Gender inequality in terms of access to digital devices is a pervasive issue that affects many societies around the world.
Despite the increasing availability of digital devices and internet connectivity, women often face significant barriers to accessing and using these technologies. Several factors contribute to this inequality. One major factor is economic inequality. Women often have lower incomes and fewer resources than men, which makes it difficult for them to afford digital devices and internet connectivity.
Women are more likely to live in households where resources are concentrated on men's needs and priorities. Another factor is cultural norms and gender roles. In various societies, women are expected to prioritize their domestic commitments and caregiving responsibilities over their interests & activities. This limits women's access to digital devices and the internet, as they may be seen as unnecessary or frivolous.
Education and literacy also play a significant role in access to digital devices. Women may be less likely to have access to education and may have lower levels of literacy, which makes it difficult for them to use digital devices effectively. Finally, social and political factors also limit women's access to digital devices. Women may face discrimination and harassment online, which makes them reluctant to use digital technologies.
Additionally, women may face legal and regulatory barriers that limit their access to the internet and digital devices. To address gender inequality in terms of access to digital devices, it is important to address these underlying factors.
This may involve addressing economic inequality, promoting gender equality and women's empowerment, improving access to education and literacy, and addressing legal and regulatory barriers to access. It is also important to promote gender-inclusive design and ensure that digital devices and platforms are designed with the needs and preferences of all users in mind.
Past research works highlight four types of hindrances to digital inclusion, material access, mental or educational access, skill access, and usage access. The digital divide can be characterized as a multidimensional event that differentiates the digital divide (access to the Internet), the social divide (information gap among nations) & the democratic divide (engagement in public life through digital resources).
As per the World Information Society 2007 report, digital inequalities subsist at several levels, like; between nations, various regions of a country, different organizations, men & women, old & young people, different religions, and so on. To capture various features of the digital divide, composite indices have been used by different studies.
These indices provide weights to supply & demand side variables, like; the number of people using technology, electrification of the regions, tariff rates, and infrastructure availability. India and other developing nations must take a systemic view of all such aspects of digital transformation, the digital divide, and the impact thereof on all inequalities, particularly gender inequality while crafting policies for digital transformation frameworks like the Digital India initiative.
About Author:
Dr. Asit K Barma: Director and Professor of Digital Business, Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy
Dr. Mafruza Sultana: Assistant Professor of Economics, Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy
