Digital Inequality and Rural Women: Opportunities, Barriers, and Solutions

Sh. Kholmurodova — Student of Social Work, National University of Uzbekistan

Introduction

In 2024, the number of internet users in Uzbekistan reached 80%. But what proportion of this number consists of women living in rural areas? While digital transformation is rapidly becoming an integral part of our daily lives, not everyone benefits equally from this progress. Unfortunately, many women living in rural areas of Uzbekistan still do not have sufficient access to digital technologies. This gap is giving rise to a new form of social inequality — digital gender disparity.

1. The Concept and Relevance of Digital Inequality

Digital inequality refers to the disparity in access to and use of the internet and digital technologies among different segments of society. These disparities often reflect and reinforce existing economic, social, cultural, and gender-based inequalities. Compared to men, urban populations, and high-income groups, rural women face the most significant barriers. These include:

– Lack of access to digital devices and stable internet

– Low levels of digital literacy

– Gender stereotypes and traditional social norms

– Lack of economic independence

Moreover, factors such as marital status, age, and family responsibilities also influence digital access. Married women or mothers with multiple children often have less time and opportunity to use digital technologies.

2. Research and Statistical Data

According to the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan (2024), 73% of women in urban areas use the internet, compared to only 48% in rural areas.

The UN’s 2023 *Gender and Digital Equality Report* indicates that in developing countries, women are 30–40% less likely to use the internet than men.

UNESCO’s 2022 study highlighted that many rural women have only heard of digital services but rarely use them in practice due to lack of digital skills.

A 2024 social survey conducted in the Sariosiyo district of Surkhandarya region revealed that 61% of women respondents could not use government e-services or online payment systems.

3. Opportunities and Positive Initiatives

There are several existing opportunities to integrate rural women into the digital world:

– Free training through the “Women’s Notebook” social support program

– Access to IT education through IT Park, “DigitALL,” and “One Million Uzbek Coders”

– Remote employment opportunities: e-commerce, content creation, and freelancing

– Special grants, microloans, and startup funding for women entrepreneurs

– Establishment of digital information centers for women within local communities

Pilot projects supported by local authorities, NGOs, and international donors have shown early success. For instance, the IT Park’s “Coding for Women” program has demonstrated positive results in rural areas.

4. Barriers, Stereotypes, and Practical Challenges

Despite the potential, many of these initiatives do not fully reach rural women due to the following barriers:

– Low self-confidence among women

– Family restrictions and lack of support for digital activities

– Poor digital infrastructure in remote areas

– Limited availability of user-friendly content in local languages

– Weak cooperation between local governments, NGOs, and grassroots activists

In addition, there is a shortage of community-level professionals — such as mahalla leaders, social workers, and teachers — who are aware of the issue and can actively facilitate solutions.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Ensuring that rural women can access digital opportunities is crucial for promoting their economic empowerment, social inclusion, and self-development. Achieving digital gender equality should be a central goal in Uzbekistan’s digital transformation strategy.

The following practical recommendations are proposed:

 Organize digital literacy courses — mobile outreach units in communities

 Develop user-friendly apps designed specifically for women (in Uzbek, with voice features)

 Invest in rural internet infrastructure, especially in remote regions like Sariosiyo

 Create motivational content that highlights success stories of female digital role models

 Establish local women’s digital centers — offering free Wi-Fi, training, and consultation

Clearly designate implementing organizations — including the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Ministry for the Support of Mahalla and Family, IT Park, UNDP, and local NGOs

References

1. United Nations. Gender and Digital Equality Report, 2023

2. Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. Statistical Bulletin, 2024

3. UNDP Uzbekistan. DigitALL: Digital Literacy Platform for Women, 2023

4. Social Survey Report: Sariosiyo District, Surkhandarya Region, 2024

5. UNESCO. Digital Literacy for Women in Rural Areas, 2022