Gender,Technology and Development

Information and communication technology (ICT) has become a mantra for economic development at the global and local levels. The hopes concern the potential of ICT to solve economic and social problems such as inadequate resources, unemployment, centraliza tion, marginalization of women, and social inequalities. It is not unreasonable to suppose that the digital divide will be a significant feature of political dialogue in the near future, especially because of the uneven spread of the benefits of ICTs.

This article deals with ICT discourses and practices in the areas of encounter between rich and poor cquntries. The digital divide, which may consist of divides between individu als, groups of women and men, and between nations, is now frequently cited as a pivotal factor in the growing economic divide. This leads us to wonder—who is catching up and for what?

Studies of technology in developing countries have addressed the conundrum of 'invisible women' by focusing either on women-dominated assembly work or on women as users. This article looks at the social shaping of technology and tries to render the women in certain arenas of information technology (IT) visible. Underlying the emergence of this group of women IT workers are 'user-friendly technologies,' horizontal learning structures, and the hybridity of some arenas of IT. After an examination of some of these issues, the article goes on to examine the creation of 'female spaces' in IT through an analysis of the gendered social distribution of knowledge, and the compensation structures and social constructs that accompany and affect the changes in the gender division of labor. The article shows that within the international division of labor and the gender-based division of labor, IT in the Philippines still offers scope for and supports the creation of 'female spaces'.

Gender discrimination determines women's exclusion in all societies and social estates, so that women constitute the poorest people. It comprises an almost insurmountable impediment for the enjoyment of all kinds of resources, among them technological ones and, in particular, communication technologies. We propose the configuration of what we call here Gender-Net, as a decisive tool to promote the quality of life of women, using human communicative processes that are communitarian in scope, and employing the socio-cultural and political goals derived from this option. This intention forces us to think about the power relations unfolded by the Internet as technological products and, simulta neously, the technological input useful to reach empowerment goals. With this work we do not want to offer answers or solutions; rather, we give a basis for the opening up of ques tions and discussion about technology and life and, more closely, the issue of technology and gender discrimination.

This article examines women's agency in the Information Technology (IT) industry and is based on field research in two cities in India: Bangalore and Delhi. We looked at both the software industry and IT-enabled services, particularly through the perceptions of women and men workers and managers within the IT industry. While a large number of women continue to work in gendered homes and work sites, balancing work and domestic responsibilities with little help from the men, they do, however, carry on an ongoing struggle to challenge embedded patriarchal relations within the family and in the industry. Conceding that there are socially sanctioned gender inequalities in the market, women prefer to work outside the home in an attempt to improve their social position and construct greater scope to enhance their agency, than be subject to family-based dependency and coercion.

The majority of women still do not have access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) which are appropriate to their needs, and neither are they active participants in the process of science and technology development. Women's effective access to information and communication technologies can help them achieve increased participation in production and productivity thereby contribute more to economic development. This article looks at the current situation of women and the digital divide. How can ICTs support social development? How can they be used by women to help meet livelihood needs? After a survey of the current efforts to increase women's access to ICTs, this article concludes that using ICTs to support women's productive activities should be seen as a pri ority area.¹

This article presents the preliminary results of a study on women's employment and train ing opportunities in International Telecommunication Centre I (ITC-I), a subsidiary of Vietnam Telecom International (VTI) in Hanoi, Vietnam. It seeks to contribute to the dis cussion on interventions at the firm level for higher gender equality in technology in the context of technological change in Vietnam. The study results suggest that (a) gender gaps in technology in ITC-I currently exist in terms of women's and men's professional qualifi cations and work allocation; (b) in-service training for women is essential to reduce exist ing gender gaps; and (c) gender sensitive changes in the firm's organizational structure are urgently needed to promote an increased participation of women in technology.