Gender digital divide and women's digital inclusion: a systematic mapping

Abstract

The digital divide is a multiple phenomenon that visualizes inequalities in the access, use, and appropriation of information and communication technologies (ICTs) of disadvantaged groups to others. There are currently several digital divides, such as a) the Gender Digital Divide (GDD), b) the generational digital divide, c) the disability digital divide, d) the educational digital divide, and e) the geographic digital divide. Specifically, the Gender Digital Divide exhibits a digital divide between women and men. This issue can be increased or decreased depending on the specific background of each woman. This study aims to provide a current and comprehensive overview of recent studies about the gender digital divide from 2017 to 2021, identifying key topics that require further exploration for a complete understanding of the topic through a systematic mapping. Findings show that recent studies have focused on analyzing the differences and inequalities between women and men regarding access, use, and appropriation of ICTs. For future years, it is needed more research on the subject.