Author: Sujay Maiti
DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.70798/Bijmrd/04010022
Abstract: In the digital age, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have emerged as transformative tools with the potential to reshape social relations, expand access to knowledge, and promote inclusive development. However, the benefits of digital technologies are unevenly distributed, and gender-based inequalities continue to restrict women’s access to and effective use of ICT. Women, particularly those belonging to marginalized communities, face structural, cultural, economic, and educational barriers that limit their digital participation. This research article critically examines the role of ICT in advancing gender empowerment by enhancing women’s access to information, education, economic opportunities, healthcare, and civic participation. Drawing on feminist theories, the capability approach, and ICT for Development (ICT4D) frameworks, the study analyzes the gender digital divide, explores key barriers to women’s digital inclusion, and highlights successful ICT-enabled initiatives across different sectors. The article further discusses policy implications and strategies for gender-responsive ICT interventions, emphasizing the need for inclusive, context-sensitive, and rights-based approaches to achieve sustainable gender empowerment in the digital era.
Keywords: ICT, Gender Empowerment, Digital Divide, Women’s Education, Social Inclusion.
Page No: 160-165