Gender and Technology:
Lessons from the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM)
It is no surprise to anybody: the introduction of new technologies to reduce drudgery in women's lives and assist with income generation does not solve all problems of gender inequality. The article, Technology and Dynamics of Gender: Insights from UNIFEM's Experience, briefly describes some of the accompanying roadblocks to gender equality and introducing new technologies to communities in developing countries: paternalistic norms, land rights, market linkages, overall macro-economic environment, regulatory environment for the design, introduction and deployment of technologies, and undeveloped 4C's of information and communication technologies (ICT): content (other than English), connection (affordable access), capabilities (training), and control (encouraging women to be more involved in ICT and business).