Women, Technology, and Social Inclusion: A Social Work Perspective
Aveshkharni Shaikh
Assistant Professor
College of Social Work, Kamptee
Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur university, Nagpur
Mob. No. 7020195296
Email- aveskharni.s@gmail.com
Abstract
We live in a digital age where access to technology can determine whether someone can find a job, get an education, stay connected to support networks, or even access healthcare. Yet these opportunities are not equally available to everyone. Women, especially those in poor or rural communities, are often left out. This paper looks at the connection between women, technology, and social inclusion through the lens of social work. The argument here is that digital exclusion is not just a technical issue – it is a matter of social justice that social workers need to take seriously. Drawing on recent data about the digital gender divide, feminist critiques of technology, and real-world examples of programs that have tried to close the gap, this paper explores how social workers can help women participate more fully in the digital world. The analysis shows that technology can both empower women and reinforce the same old inequalities, including new forms of violence that play out online. The paper offers a practical framework for social work practice at three levels – individual, community, and policy –and argues that digital inclusion must become part of everyday social justice work. It ends with concrete recommendations for how to train social workers, advocate for better policies, and practice in ways that put gender equity and intersectional thinking at the center.
Keywords: Women; digital inclusion; social work; gender digital divide; social justice; technology-facilitated violence; empowerment
DOI link – https://doi.org/10.69758/GIMRJ/2604S01V14P010
Download