How do information and communication technologies (ICTs) empower women?

IF 1.5 3区社会学 Q2 WOMENS STUDIES

Womens Studies International Forum Pub Date : 2025-01-31 DOI:10.1016/j.wsif.2025.103057

Urooj Fatima , Nisar Ahmad , Angeliki, N. Menegaki , Haiyan Wang

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Abstract

This systematic literature review explores the role of innovative technologies, particularly Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), in empowering women across economic, social, and political domains. By analyzing 79 highly cited studies, the review identifies key themes such as economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, awareness of women's rights, and personal development via technology. ICTs have proven to be vital tools in reducing isolation, fostering entrepreneurship, and improving women's access to resources and markets. However, significant barriers remain, including limited access to affordable ICTs, inadequate infrastructure in rural areas, and socio-cultural constraints that hinder women's full engagement with technology. The review highlights the importance of government policies and public-private collaborations to address these challenges and create a supportive environment for women's empowerment. The findings underscore the transformative potential of ICTs while emphasizing the need for inclusive strategies that bridge the digital divide and ensure equal access to technology for women globally.

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来源期刊

Womens Studies International Forum WOMENS STUDIES-

CiteScore

2.50

自引率

7.10%

发文量

审稿时长

79 days

期刊介绍： Women"s Studies International Forum (formerly Women"s Studies International Quarterly, established in 1978) is a bimonthly journal to aid the distribution and exchange of feminist research in the multidisciplinary, international area of women"s studies and in feminist research in other disciplines. The policy of the journal is to establish a feminist forum for discussion and debate. The journal seeks to critique and reconceptualize existing knowledge, to examine and re-evaluate the manner in which knowledge is produced and distributed, and to assess the implications this has for women"s lives.