How Gender and Cultural Issues affects Access to Global Information as a Tool for Development particularly in Developing Countries

Abstract

Access to global information has several dimensions that will facilitate an inclusive society. Therefore, infrastructure of internet connectivity and the use of internet is an essential access channel for global information especially in developing countries. Gender is the relationships between men and women while culture is a system of knowledge shared by a relatively large group of people. Issues of gender inequality and culture such as cultural gender norms such as patriarchal structure, economic dependence on men, domestic roles and responsibilities poses hindrance to accessing information, inadequate or total lack of information makes women and girls have limited influence over resources in society and this has been a serious barrier when trying to get a clear picture of access to global information in developing countries. However, the author critically examined gender issues such as digital divide, cost of the internet and exclusion of women in terms of technology utilization. It further discusses critically on cultural issues as a way of life and believes of people in relation to access to global information society. The paper also highlighted the impact of information technology on women work such as helping the women to advance in technology and also creating new job through the information and communication technology. The paper went further to discuss the obstacles of women’s access to global information such as low levels of education, illiteracy, low economic status and language. The paper also listed the economic empowerment of women through information and communication technology such as farming, trade and entrepreneurship and the paper concluded by discussing the challenges and issues to the access to global information in developing countries such as lack of electricity, inadequate ICT infrastructure, maintenance and expansion of computer networks, maintenance and expansion of computer and lack of holistic approach to infrastructure creation.