Prospects and challenges for women empowerment through open ICT4D in Pakistan - 1st draft
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2010
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Abstract
The proliferation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) such as telephones, radio, television, computer applications and the Internet has lead to their increased use and importance. Open ICT- the broad access to ICT, is a very powerful tool for development and has assisted tremendously in achieving efficiency in key areas such as health, education, and economic empowerment of women.
In Pakistan, the communication sector has become one of the major sectors attracting foreign direct investment during the past five years. Despite the increased number of mobile phone and computer users, rural areas remain underserved. Furthermore, access and usage of ICTs demand affordability, accessibility, and literacy and these factors are usually gender insensitive, the very definition of gender digital divide. The „digital divide‟ refers to the uneven distribution of benefits of ICTs and drastic differences in levels of ICT access between different population groups. This divide is especially pronounced for rural and marginalized women and girls.
However, on the other hand the potential of Open ICTs for women‟s empowerment has also been shown. Access to employment and income is one aspect thereof. The ICT applications have translated into improved access to financial information for female users. Besides employment creation and business promotion, ICTs have provided innovative ways for women and girls to obtain access to education and skills and to facilitate women and girls‟ access to health-related information and facilities. Distance learning, as another example, gives flexibility of access and study times. This may be of special importance for females in rural areas or those facing social barriers that limit their access to schools. Health educators have used radio to communicate information related to women‟s sexual and reproductive health. Besides information tools like CD, databases and mobile ICT devices can enhance public health delivery.
The specific objectives of this paper are to identify gender-specific utilization of ICTs in Pakistan. The paper looks at the determinants of ICT openness with special reference to socio-cultural norms and the policy context. The paper aims to document the challenges faced while implementing gender focused initiatives. These challenges are associated with access and use of ICTs, which in turn determine the degree of openness and are considered in the present paper in relation to strong socio-cultural barriers to openness in Pakistan. The paper is based on some case studies regarding digital literacy, satellite phones for tele-health, e-commerce etc. and emphasizes major challenges faced by women where access and use of some specific ICTs is more open. Moreover, in order to reflect the impact of openness in terms of women‟s empowerment, some success stories are also documented by interviewing the key informants.
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Working Paper
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Keywords
GENDER EQUALITY, PAKISTAN, DIGITAL DIVIDE, ACCESS TO ICT, ICT4D, WOMEN'S ADVANCEMENT, FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT