Designing for Equality: The Need for Gender-Sensitive Technology

If technology is meant to connect and empower us all, why are so many women still left behind in the digital world? According to ITU’s (International Telecommunication Union) latest data, the proportion of women using the internet globally amounts to 57% compared to 62% of men.

The digital gender divide refers to the disparity in access to digital technologies. Women in developing countries face barriers to the internet and mobile phones due to cultural norms, income disparities, and safety concerns. They have very few opportunities to build their digital skills, limiting their involvement in the digital economy. Since the tech industry is male-dominated, women are underrepresented in technical and leadership roles. Online harassments further discourage women’s participation in digital platforms and intensifies existing gender inequalities

Is the Digital Gender Divide a serious issue?

The digital Gender Divide is a critical issue with wide-ranging social, cultural, and economic consequences. It deepens existing gender inequalities by limiting women’s access to education, healthcare, employment, and civic participation. Economically, it restricts women’s involvement in the digital world, impacting overall growth in developing countries. The divide limits women’s participation in public and social life. It exposes them to online harassment further discouraging their engagement

Gender-Sensitive Technology to Overcome Digital Gender Divide

Gender-sensitive technology refers to digital platforms, tools, and systems created to understand and respond to different experiences, challenges, and needs of all genders. The goal is to promote equity, fairness, and inclusivity to ensure technological solutions are safe and accessible.

For example, a women-focused health app designed to address issues like reproductive health, pregnancy care, menstrual tracking, menstrual support, etc. This type of gender-sensitive technology addresses the specific health needs of women. It also empowers women with knowledge and control over their well-being, reflecting a thoughtful, inclusive approach to digital design

The different approaches to developing Gender Sensitive technology:

• Conduct Gender Analysis – Perform a gender analysis to understand the challenges and needs of different genders and identify gaps. Develop scenarios that reflect diverse needs and user experiences to design a technology that is versatile and adaptable to other contexts. For instance, UN Women conducted a gender analysis to understand the problems women farmers face in Rwanda, such as access to markets financial resources, etc. It revealed that it is due to less access to internet and mobile. The cultural norms restricted their participation in digital literacy.

• Involve Diverse Voices– Assemble a team with women to address diverse experiences and needs. This will help to identify and address any gender-specific preferences and issues during the design and testing process. For example, when Apple developed its comprehensive Health app, it included features specifically tailored to women’s health needs, such as menstrual cycle tracking, pregnancy monitoring, and menopause management. By including these critical aspects of women’s health, Apple ensured that the app provided valuable support to women in managing their overall well-being, making it a more inclusive and relevant tool.

• Address Online Safety and Security– Incorporate features that protect women from online harassment and abuse such as content moderation, privacy controls, and reporting mechanisms. Ensure robust data protection and privacy measures to safeguard from misuse and breaches of personal information. Twitter has introduced Safety Mode, a feature that automatically blocks the use of harmful language based on algorithms.

• Ensure Accessibility – Design interfaces that can cope with technical expertise and physical abilities. They also consider factors like language, navigation, and usability. Multi-lingual options should be available to ensure that language barriers do not limit access. For example, Windows offers tools like Narrator, Voice Control, and Magnifier for easy accessibility for different users.

• Promote Inclusivity in the Content – Digital content including images, video, and languages should represent diverse genders to avoid reinforcing stereotypes. Customization ensures that making use of technology is more relevant and personal. Google’s approach to emoji design and digital content fosters a sense of personalization to be seen and recognized in digital spaces.

• Test for Gender Bias -The use of methodologies and tools to mitigate and detect gender bias in algorithms and datasets helps to create equitable and fair solutions. Diverse Test groups enable us to identify and address any unintended gender biases or barriers in technology. For example, LinkedIn has implemented tools and bias detection techniques to audit its algorithms to evaluate how recommendations varied by gender.

• Encourage Gender Equity in Tech Development – Training opportunities, mentorship programs, and career advancement support foster support and encourage women and other underrepresented genders to participate in tech development. Google’s “Women Techmakers” initiative provides training programs and workshops. It ranges from coding to app development for women to enter tech industry.

Conclusion

The digital gender divide is more than just a matter of access; it’s about who benefits from technology and who doesn’t. Closing this gap requires us to develop technology that genuinely addresses the needs of everyone, particularly women who have been historically left behind.

This involves more than simply creating more apps or devices. It’s about understanding the real challenges that women face—such as online safety, specific health concerns, and access to digital education—and designing solutions that make a meaningful impact. By focusing on inclusivity and fairness in technology, we can help bridge the gender gap and create new opportunities for learning, growth, and participation for all.

Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that technology empowers everyone, allowing all individuals to fully engage with the digital world and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive society.

–Praveena Lakshmi, is a certified Content Writer and a business communication and soft skill Trainer.