There are 200 million more men than women online: study - Women's Agenda

There are 200 million more men than women online: study

The internet gender gap is alarmingly high in developing companies with long-held cultural attitudes often to blame, according to a new report released today by Intel.

The study found that while the numbers of women online in high income countries were often on par with, or exceeded, men’s usage, there is on average 25% less women online in developing regions.

In some regions in Africa the numbers exceeds 40%.

The report Women and the web: Bridging the internet gap and creating new global opportunities in low and middle-income countries, is based on a global survey of 2,200 females across 144 low and middle income countries with primary data collected in Egypt, India, Mexico and Uganda and was commissioned by Intel Corp in consultation with the U.S State Departments Office of Global Women’s issues, UN women and World pulse.

The internet gender gap was often reflective of existing regional gender inequalities, according to the report.

“200 million fewer women than men are online today,” said Shelly Esque, president of Intel Foundation and vice president of corporate affairs for Intel in a press release. “In many regions, the internet gender gap reflects and amplifies existing inequalities between the sexes.”

The study found that long-held cultural attitudes are a major contributing factor for women’s lack of online presence.

One in five women in India and Egypt believe that the internet is not appropriate for them, while some don’t believe that the internet has information that is relevant to them. Others were concerned that their families wouldn’t approve of them being online.

According to Esque, education is the key to bridging the Internet gender gap.

“Until you know what’s possible, it’s hard to imagine how this can impact your life,” she said. “It’s incumbent on all the players, the private and the public sector, to think about, what is that local, relevant information?

“Women miss many benefits if they’re not online,” she said. “We believe, and I think there’s plenty of evidence to support, that the Internet is a gateway to so much opportunity, information around health, education, economic opportunities,” she said.

“This list goes on and on. If women are denied access to that information, then they’re denied opportunity to thrive in their communities.”

Increasing women’s access to the internet would also increase their sense of empowerment. More than 70% of those surveyed considered the Internet as a “liberating” tool and 85% said it “provides more freedom”.

“Women’s lack of access is giving rise to a second digital divide, one where women and girls risk being left further and further behind,” said Melanne Verveer, ambassador for global women’s issues at the US State Department.

Intel said that governments and technological companies could take action by increasing digital literacy, providing easier access to mobile and broadband internet, and gearing free information to women’s issues.

The report issued a call to action to double the number of women and girls online in developing countries from 600 million women to 1.2 billion in 3 years.

It concluded that by enabling broader Internet access in developing regions, it could potentially generate US$50-70 billion dollars in annual GDP in 144 developing countries.

Key facts from the report:

The internet gender gap is:

  • 43% in sub-Saharan Africa,
  • 34% in the Middle East and North Africa,
  • 33% in South Asia.
  • There are an estimated 2.4 billion users online
  • One in five women in India and Egypt believe the internet is not appropriate for them or were concerned their family wouldn’t approve of them being online.
  • 50% of respondents said they used the internet to search for jobs or apply for jobs online.
  • 30% said they used the internet to earn extra income.
  • 79% said they used the internet to improve their studies
  • 42 % said the internet was essential to their daily lives
  • Doubling number of girls and women online could generate approx. US $13-18 billion GDP across developing countries.

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