Dynamics of Youth and Gender Divide in Technology in Bangladesh

Abstract

This article identifies the nature of gendered digital divides between male and female youth (aged 15–29) in the context of Bangladesh. As a measuring indicator for technology inclusiveness, this study examines whether a young male or female owns a mobile phone, the most basic means of accessing the Internet. As observed in the descriptive analysis, on average, 46% of young females have a mobile phone, compared to 79% young males. However, such disparity varies across age cohorts and the divides of rural–urban, poor–non-poor, richer–poorer income deciles, etc. To understand whether there is any significant discrimination against women in terms of technology inclusiveness, this study applies the Blinder–Oaxaca (B–O) decomposition technique. The decomposition analysis shows statistically significant discrimination against women in terms of mobile ownership at both the household and the individual level. The factors such as remittances, average years of schooling of the household members, urban residence, household’s income status, etc., significantly reduce discriminatory behaviour towards young females.

JEL: D63, O33, I21

Keywords

Digital divide Blinder Oaxaca decomposition technological inclusiveness youth gender discrimination

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