Why Women in the Knowledge Society?
This FAQ is based on the forthcoming Orbicom report “Emerging Knowledge Opportunities – Engendering the Knowledge Society: Measuring Women’s Participation” by Sophia Huyer and Nancy Hafkin prepared for Orbicom with funding from IDRC. It is summarized here at the request of the International Taskforce on Women and ICTs in support of the GK3 conference. Both social and economic arguments can be made for the inclusion of gender issues in the Knowledge Society. The major difference between the information society and the Knowledge Society is the focus of the Knowledge Society on developing human skills and capacities and acquiring and using knowledge. The use of information technology to exchange and acquire knowledge is key to the Knowledge Society. We know that a major gender divide exists globally in access and use of ICTs. The 2005 Orbicom report, Women in the Information Society found that the available data on access to and use of ICTs globally indicate that women’s participation in
