Technology and Enhancing Egyptian Women Opportunities

Gender and ICTs

Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have created new economic and social opportunities all over the world.  Their use, however, continues to be governed by existing power relations. There is gender inequality in the use of ICT. Women, particularly poor women, often lack the necessary tools, skills, literacy and knowledge of English to make the most of the opportunities opened up by ICTs. However some individuals and organizations are using ICTs to promote gender equality. The situation is even worse in Egypt.

Unequal access to ICTs

Access to new ICTs is still a distant reality for the vast majority of people in Egypt. Rural populations, have been left out of the information revolution. Even in many areas of Cairo, there is a lack of basic infrastructure, resulting in high costs for installing and running ICTs. Unfamiliarity with ICTs and the dominance of the English language on the Internet, together with a perceived lack of demonstrated benefit from ICTs to address local problems many Egyptians underestimate the value of ICT and some even see it valueless. 

These barriers pose even greater problems for Egyptian women. Many Egyptian women are less likely to be literate or to speak English and they lack opportunities for training in computer skills. many of the educated Egyptian women are further marginalized from the information sector as a result of being disqualified, domestic responsibilities, cultural restrictions on mobility and less economic power and the lack of relevance of most content on the World Wide Web.

Worldwide, women and men relate differently to technology due to cultural values and practices. For the majority of women this has meant exclusion from access to and power over different technologies.

Pervasive barriers restrict women’s participation in science and technology fields even in the wealthiest nations, says a UNESCO report. Despite efforts to give women greater access to education all countries, the research shows they are still significantly under-represented in many degree programs, especially in engineering, physics and computer science. But even with improved access to science and technology education, women have not increased their numbers in the workforce, the study finds. In fact, in some countries, including the USA, the number of women in the science and technology workforce is declining. Defintely, the case is worse in Egypt, though the laws are supposedly for equality. In reality, there is opportunity inequality. Women have less access to resources including property, financing, technology and education. Women are not having access to professional and income opportunities in spite of the laws and organizational efforts.Quality health care, financial resources, higher social and economic status, more significant roles in government and politics are also needed to help woman achieve parity in the fields of science, technology and innovation. 

Technology can play a definite role in enhancing women educational opportunities. Still, there is no access to internet and the culture that education is basically face to face and internet education is humbug is a hinder.  Another obstacle is the parental role. Parents do not subscribe to internet feeling it is a useless luxury and if they subscribe it is for a minimal cost and most of the times the internet access is for their sons. (It is weird to think that girls should be interested in using the internet.)   In essence, a small number of Egyptian women know how to use the internet effectively. I believe Egyptian schools can help in giving better opportunities to girls by opening up summer programs for girls to teach them how to use the internet to enhance their educational, professional and life opportunities. In order to do so I think Egyptian women who are interested in technology -I am one of them- can play a role in improving the situation of the Egyptian women via teaching them how to use the internet effectively to be empowered educationally and professionally.