ICT AND GENDER
YOUTH HOLIDAY CAMP ON ICT
AT ST. HENRY’S KITOVU
JAN 16-23, 2005
ZAMZAM NASSAZI MAYANJA
INFORMATION OFFICER
WOUGNET
http://www.wougnet.org
What is ICT?
Tools used in creation, processing, transfer and
sharing of information
Divided into: traditional…&
Drum
Phone
Radio
Modern ICT
Video, TV
Computer, Internet/E-mail
Fax, cell phone
Video conferencing
..How about Gender…
Refers to equitable opportunities for both
sexes (girls and boys) and considering the
complexities in each gender category
DOES NOT mean girls alone (although
most people think so- probably because
girls are the most disadvantaged sex)
DOES NOT mean simple binary (girl and
boys) considerations as 2 large groups
How WOUGNET gets
Involved in ICT & Gender
The UN places access to ICT as the 3rd most
important issue facing women globally, after
poverty and violence against women.. Fatuma Alloo,UNESCO,
Women in the Digital Age-Using Communication Technology for Empowerment-1998
Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) was
established to promote and support the use of
ICTs by women organisations and individuals in
Uganda as means of improving conditions of life…
WOUGNET's Involvement
cont’d
It should be noted that access to timely and
relevant information is critical to any
discipline be it Agriculture, Education,
Commerce, Health, Tourism, etc; for
development to take place.
WOUGNET therefore facilitates
exchange and dissemination of
information on various women’s issues
via…
WOUGNET's Involvement
cont’d
WOUGNET activities are carried out
through...
WOUGNET Website:
http://www.wougnet.org
Administration of a Mailing list
Publication of Newsletters
Fax & Telephone
Workshops & Seminars etc.
Importance of ICT
ICT have many opportunities...
Making learning more interesting especially
for hard-to-understand issues
Bridging distances – e.g using e-mails, phone,
video conferencing etc.
Breaking literacy barriers in communication –
e.g using video and radio.
Research and useful Information sharing –
e.g using Internet
Importance of ICT cont’d
Access information on jobs/internships
Creation of new employment opportunities
(via ICTs/with ICTs)
Enhance interaction with peers over long
distances
Create entertainment opportunities (games,
music,video)
Importance of ICT cont’d
Provide more realistic information on life
elsewhere
Provide educational information (distance
learning)
Provide health information, including on
sensitive issues
Linkage between ICT and
Gender … checklist of issues
Are there any gender
differences in access to
ICT?
How does the use of
ICT affect men-boys
and women-girls
differently?
Are both men-boys and
women-girls included in
ICT decision making?
Linkage between ICT and
Gender cont’d
Information Society: More information
available than ever before for
entertainment/leisure and development..
HOWEVER,
There is uneven access to
this body of information (Digital
divide), i.e,...
Linkage between ICT and
Gender cont’d
Between countries
Developed
Developing
Within countries
Urban/rural
Men-boys/Women-girls
Educated/non-educated
Rich/poor
Linkage between ICT and
Gender cont’d
Major factors for the unevenness in access to
ICT between men-boys/women-girls.
Factors constraining girls’ access to
information technology…
Literacy and education level - low for girls
compared to boys
Social and cultural norms, etc.
These factors limit the ability of girls to
search for and disseminate information for
academic and social advancement.
Challenges/threats of ICTs
ICT availability (connectivity constraints, e.g;
cost)
Access (money to spend, skills)
Language (Internet: 80% in English)
Content (Not everything there is useful, i.e;
pornography)
Dominance of western culture (Internet,
TV/video etc.)
The Main Challenge to ICT
use
Its is documented internationally and
locally that girls and boys have different
needs and constraints to accessing and
using ICT
IS IT TRUE In your school?
DO GIRLS use ICTs less than boys?
WHY?
DO SOME BOYS and GIRLS use less ICT
than others? WHY?
ICT and Gender - Meeting
the Challenge
What strategies should we take to ensure equal
and fair access and use for all in your school?
Desist from dualist gender stereotype and take care
of diversity among girls and boys
Encourage girls to enroll more into natural and
computer sciences
Quotas for girls
Develop girl-centered workspaces
Networks of social learning
Use project approach in learning
THANK YOU
info@wougnet.org