Gender Disparities in Access to Learning Devices

Certificate: View Certificate

Published Paper PDF: View PDF

Rajesh Reddy

Independent Researcher

Telangana, India

Abstract
Digital learning devices—laptops, tablets, and smartphones—have become indispensable tools for modern education, yet access to these devices remains uneven, with gender emerging as a critical axis of disparity. This study examines gender-based differences in device ownership, usage patterns, and the underlying socio-cultural, economic, and infrastructural factors that shape these disparities among secondary school students in both urban and rural contexts. Employing a mixed-methods design, the research integrates quantitative survey data from 500 students (250 female, 250 male) and qualitative insights from 30 educators to provide a comprehensive understanding of the digital gender divide. The survey component assesses device ownership rates, frequency and purpose of use, and perceived barriers to access, while in-depth interviews explore parental attitudes, household decision-making processes, and institutional support mechanisms. Results reveal that female students are consistently less likely to own personal learning devices (61% vs. 76% for males) and engage with educational applications less frequently (3.7 vs. 5.2 weekly hours). Moreover, rural female students exhibit the lowest access rates (52%), highlighting the compounded effect of geographic and gender-based disadvantages. The study identifies key drivers of inequity: economic constraints that prioritize boys’ education, entrenched cultural norms assigning domestic responsibilities to girls, and a lack of targeted institutional policies to support female access. These disparities have tangible educational consequences, including reduced digital literacy, lower assignment completion rates, and diminished academic confidence among female learners. The manuscript concludes with evidence-based recommendations for policy and practice, advocating for gender-sensitive device subsidy programs, community-level awareness campaigns to challenge patriarchal norms, and school-based lending schemes.

Keywords
Gender Disparities, Digital Divide, Learning Devices, Educational Equity, Digital Literacy

References

• Banerjee, R., Sen, R., & Sharma, V. (2019). Gender and technology: Exploring familial attitudes toward digital learning. Journal of Educational Technology, 15(2), 45–60.
• Cheng, T., & Park, K. (2017). Digital literacy and gender in secondary education. International Review of Education, 63(5), 657–673.
• Cooper, J. (2006). The digital divide: The role of parental attitudes. Computers & Education, 47(1), 62–70.
• Dasgupta, S., Mukherjee, A., & Roy, P. (2018). Evaluating device loan schemes: A case study in rural schools. Education and Information Technologies, 23(3), 975–988.
• Desai, M., & Kulkarni, P. (2020). Rural girls and digital access: Barriers and enablers. Rural Education Quarterly, 29(4), 112–129.
• Hargittai, E., & Hinnant, A. (2008). Digital inequality: Differences in young adults’ use of the Internet. Communication Research, 35(5), 602–621.
• Ministry of Education. (2019). National survey on educational technology access. Government Press.
• Selwyn, N. (2016). Digital downsides: Exploring the limitations of technology in education. Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1), 3–16.
• (2020). Gender equality in digital learning. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
• van Dijk, J. (2005). The deepening divide: Inequality in the information society. SAGE Publications.
• Warschauer, M. (2003). Technology and social inclusion: Rethinking the digital divide. MIT Press.
• Weyers, M. (2018). Gender, technology, and empowerment: A review. Gender and Education, 30(7), 850–869.
• Livingstone, S., & Helsper, E. (2007). Gradations in digital inclusion: Children’s internet use in Europe. New Media & Society, 9(4), 671–696.
• Kabeer, N. (2015). Women’s empowerment and digital divides in South Asia. Gender, Technology and Development, 19(2), 247–262.
• Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2019). Teens, social media & technology 2018. Pew Research Center.
• Fuchs, C. (2017). Social media, gender and class. International Journal of Communication, 11, 3758–3779.
• Robinson, L., DiMaggio, P., & Hargittai, E. (2019). New key metrics for the digital divide. Social Science Computer Review, 37(2), 209–221.
• Maina, L., & Otieno, R. (2020). Gendered patterns of mobile phone ownership. African Journal of Information Systems, 12(1), 3–22.