Women and the Web: A Comparative Study of Socio-Cultural and Digital Infrastructural Barriers

Abstract

Despite rapid advancements in digital technology across India, a significant gendered digital divide persists, particularly in rural and semi-urban regions such as Haridwar, Uttarakhand. This research explores the multifaceted barriers hindering women’s digital empowerment, drawing on nationally representative datasets (NFHS-5, NSSO, GSMA), district-level statistics, and grounded case studies. The study reveals that women's access to digital resources is shaped not only by infrastructural limitations such as poor internet connectivity, low smartphone penetration, and inadequate public digital facilities but also by entrenched socio-cultural norms including patriarchal restrictions, educational disparities, and safety concerns.Quantitative findings show stark gaps: in rural Uttarakhand, only 30.1% of women aged 15–49 use the internet, compared to 55.4% of men, with merely 44.8% of Haridwar's rural women owning a mobile phone. Educational background strongly correlates with digital access women with higher secondary education are three times more likely to use the internet than those with no formal education. Case studies from Haridwar villages further highlight real-life stories of women constrained by gender roles and limited digital exposure.

The paper underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive policy interventions, localized digital literacy programs, improved infrastructure, and community-based awareness campaigns. Addressing these barriers is essential for enabling women’s participation in education, employment, and governance in the digital era. Ultimately, digital inclusion must go hand-in-hand with social inclusion to achieve equitable development.