Difference between the way men and women are treated in society.
• Technology is merely a product of the social set up –
gender gap has percolated into technology.
• Global System for Mobile Communications (GSMA)
estimates, over 390 million women in low- and
middle-income countries do not have Internet access.
• In India, only 14.9% of women were reported to be
using the Internet – women don’t get access to digital devices.
Health access denied.
Education services denied.
• Technology are created by men and so made for men.
There are about two million apps, most of which
cater to young men. The numbers of apps that
cater to women specific needs are not many.
• Need of adoption of feminist technology or fem-tech.
• Feminist technology – An approach to technology and
innovation that is inclusive, informed and responsive
to the entire community with all its diversity.
In the 1950s, dishwashers and washing machines
were promoted as a method of emancipating women.
• UN Women + ICT – initiatives like EQUAL, Girls in ICT.
To rope more women into STEM.
Aims at transforming the making process of tech inclusive.
• Women and girls are the largest consumer groups left out of technology -could be major profit drivers.
International Telecom Union
• United Nations specialized agency for information and
communication technologies – ICTs.
• Headquartered at Geneva, Switzerland.
• Originally founded in 1865 as International Telegraph
union.
• In 1947 – became International Telecommunication Union.
• Tried to mainly promote cooperation among international telegraphy networks of those days.
• Standardised the use of the Morse code.
• Regulated world’s first radio-communication and fixed telecommunication networks.
Functions
• allocate global radio spectrum.
• Allocate satellite orbits.
• Develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect.
• To strive to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities.
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