VOA科学技术2023--Report: Online ‘Digital Divide’ Leaves Girls Behind

Report: Online ‘Digital Divide’ Leaves Girls Behind

A new report suggests many girls across the world are not using the internet because of online abuse, discrimination or other issues.

The report was produced by a non-profit group called Girl Effect. The organization carries out research and programs aimed at linking young girls to education, useful products and technology. The effort was also supported by the Malala Fund, the United Nations Children's agency UNICEF and the Vodafone Americas Foundation.

The report says many girls face numerous barriers to using the internet, especially on mobile devices. Girl Effect describes a situation on the internet that it says can favor boys over girls. It calls the situation a "digital divide."

"The digital gender¹ divide is real and is creating public spaces where women, especially girls, are being left behind," said Girl Effect chief executive Jessica Posner Odede in a statement. She added that girls are often told they are "vulnerable, less competent, and unable to protect themselves online."

The group's report said these kinds of statements can reshape girls' beliefs and opinions and prevent them from fully² taking part in numerous online activities. This can severely³ limit the information they see and can block educational and job progress.

Online abuse and concerns about internet safety have resulted in many girls "setting up more protections and behaving more conservatively when connecting with others and sharing personal information online," the report said.

The report is based on a public opinion study involving more than 10,000 boys and girls aged⁴ 14 to 21. A separate part questioned parents of the youth. Data was collected in seven countries: Ethiopia, India, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda and Tanzania. Comparative data came from Britain and the United States.

The report noted⁵ that, "Women across low- and middle-income countries are seven percent less likely than men to own a mobile phone and are 19 percent less likely to use mobile internet."

The report suggests a digital gender divide exists although governments worldwide have taken steps to prevent it. A UNICEF study released earlier this year showed that in 54 countries, there is a median gender ratio of 71. This means that for every 100 young boys and men who use the internet, only 71 young girls and women do.

Recent studies have also shown that women experience more online abuse, persuading large numbers of girls to quit social media services such as Facebook and Instagram.

The Girl Effect report found that among digitally connected youth, 12 percent more girls than boys said they feel self-conscious while using social media. The report also said girls are 11 percent less likely to place photos or comments online compared to boys of the same age.

Mitali Nikore is a gender policy specialist at research group Nikore Associates based in New Delhi. She told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that girls who limit their online activity often carry this behavior with them into the workplace. This can lead to difficulties for women who might hold back "in demonstrating their skills and building strategic connections," Nikore said.

Nikore noted she thinks several things are needed to help solve the problems girls are facing. One is to improve the availability of mobile devices for girls and young women across the world. Other possible solutions include establishing more digital literacy programs and efforts to end gender-based discrimination.

Words in This Story

gender – n. the state of being male or female

vulnerable – adj. easy to hurt or attack physically⁶ or emotionally

competent – adj. able to do something well

self-conscious – adj. to be too aware of what other people are thinking about you and your appearance

literacy – n. the ability to read and write

1 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

2 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

3 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

4 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。