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GenderTech

The Gender Gap in Digital Freedom

Enaya Khowaja
By Enaya Khowaja Add a Comment

The Growing Gender Disparity in ICT Usage

Today, social media and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) usage in Pakistan is at its ascendancy, with over 194 million active cellular mobile connections and 117 million individuals active on the internet in late 2025 (DataReportal). However, amidst the growing surge of digitalisation in Pakistan, what often goes unnoticed is the disproportionality of ICT usage among Pakistanis.

Contents
The Growing Gender Disparity in ICT UsageFinancial ConstraintsSocial Stigma and ‘Honour’ CultureThe Literacy CrisisThe Impact of the Gender Gap on Digital PlatformsEconomic Consequences and Labour Force ParticipationThe Importance of Gender Equality in Digital FreedomReferences

Research shows that women in Pakistan are 48 per cent less likely to own a mobile phone than men and 49 per cent less likely to use mobile internet (Inclusive Internet Index 2022). There are a multitude of factors that restrict women from accessing technology and the internet in Pakistan, including financial dependence, social stigma, and a lack of education.

Financial Constraints

Financial dependence is one of the most significant factors behind the lack of accessible ICTs for women. The gender wage gap in Pakistan is one of the worst in South Asia, with women in wage employment earning around 25 to 30 per cent less than men; this disparity reaches around 40 per cent in the informal economy (MOPHRD). According to the United Nations, around 60 per cent of women are unpaid family workers.

With lower incomes — and, in many cases, little to no financial freedom — many women are put in positions where they are unable to afford smartphones and other ICTs, leaving them dependent on their male relatives or spouses to provide them with digital resources.

Social Stigma and ‘Honour’ Culture

Many Pakistani families are also apprehensive about women using the internet, with 54 per cent of respondents in one study expressing the belief that internet usage among women was bad (Anwar and Qayyum). Women in Pakistan are frequently constrained to stereotypical domestic roles and discouraged from partaking in traditionally “masculine” fields such as IT.

It is equally necessary to take note of ‘honour’ culture in Pakistan and its effect on female liberation. In patriarchal societies such as those prevalent in Pakistan, the activities of women are closely monitored. Any deviance from what is considered “moral” — such as interacting online with men who are not relatives or posting oneself on social media — can be met with severe punishment. Consequently, many women avoid maintaining an online presence out of fear of damaging their ‘honour’ or igniting opposition from male relatives.

The Literacy Crisis

One of the most vital factors influencing an individual’s ability to use ICTs is digital literacy and education. This includes understanding how to navigate digital platforms, online communication, and digital banking — skills normally taught in educational institutions. However, Pakistan’s literacy crisis remains severe and affects women disproportionately.

Although male literacy in Pakistan stands at 68 per cent, female literacy hovers at only 52 per cent (The Economic Survey 2024–25), indicating a stark disparity in education levels between men and women. This disparity not only acts as a barrier to accessing ICTs, but also means many women remain unaware of the digital resources available around them.

The Impact of the Gender Gap on Digital Platforms

Evidently, this gap has a detrimental impact on both society and the economy. Studies show that on social media platforms, men are more likely than women to leave comments on posts and express their opinions. Although this may seem like a harmless trend, comments under public posts steer public opinion and influence an audience’s perception and interpretation of online content. Researcher Emma Pierson noted:

“Since people are influenced by reading online comments, these discrepancies may propagate throughout society. Readers of comments about intimate partner violence, for example, were influenced by the views expressed in those comments. Worse, these discrepancies may be exacerbated because if people falsely believe their own views are unpopular, they may be persuaded not to express them at all, creating a ‘spiral of silence.’”

When men engage more heavily in online conversation and discourse, an uneven digital environment is created where social media amplifies male perspectives far more than female ones.

Economic Consequences and Labour Force Participation

Beyond online spaces, a lack of access to ICTs affects a woman’s ability to excel in the job market. In modern times, digital literacy is an essential skill, with an analysis of 43 million online job postings by the National Skills Coalition (in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta) showing an overwhelming demand for digital skills. Several aspects of the hiring process have also shifted digitally — including online applications, virtual interviews, and networking through platforms such as LinkedIn.

Without sufficient employment and literacy in operating digital banking systems, women become increasingly financially dependent on their spouses or male relatives, ultimately finding themselves stripped of autonomy.

The negative impact of low female employment extends beyond individual circumstances to the broader economy. Pakistan records an extremely low labour force participation rate for women at only 24 per cent (PBS 2025). It is estimated that the country loses 30 per cent of its potential GDP due to low female employment (IMF 2016). Essentially, nations like Pakistan that fail women fail economically as well.

The Importance of Gender Equality in Digital Freedom

Research on the digital gender gap paints a clear picture. Gender inequality does not stop at constitutional provisions, patriarchal belief systems, or traditional social injustices — it creeps directly into digital spaces as well. It is only when concerted efforts are made to bridge the gender gap in ICTs that a holistic difference can be made in solving the pressing issue of gender inequality.

References

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