TRACK 9: Infusing Gender into ICT4D: Innovating Research, Practice and Policy

Track Chairs:
Gloria Bonder  
Center of Gender, Society and Policies 

FLACSO, Argentina.
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catunescomujer.org/catunesco_mujer   

Ineke Buskens

GRACE  
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Grace-network.net

Synopsis
This track seeks to explore how a gender perspective grounded in equality as well as in the recognition of diversity can contribute to ICT becoming a driver of sustainable development.
In this rapidly changing global society, very much influenced by the dissemination of ICT and passing through a period of multi-dimensional crises, there is a renewed and vibrant debate on the meaning, the conditions and strategies of development. Instead of a mere emphasis on economic growth, goals such as ‘living well’ (Latin America) and conscious evolution (Africa) have been put on the table. The vision of a sustainable future for humanity requires us to re-think development as responsive to the needs, capacities, historical and cultural experiences and perspectives of all social sectors.
The concept of human development is grounded in human rights, social justice and respect for diversity. Alignment with these principles is not possible without a sustainable and concrete commitment to infuse gender analysis in theory and practice. Empowerment of women and democratization of gender relations - including the emergence of new masculinities - correlates positively with development. According to Amartya Sen, “nothing is as important today in the political economy of development as an adequate recognition of the political, economic and social participation and leadership of women” (Sen, 1999). When ICT4D intends to take its mandate of human development seriously, it will thus have to infuse a gender perspective in its research, practice and policy.
Besides concerns around social justice and the development - effectiveness of ICT4D, the striving for excellence in research and practice and the need for innovation are compelling reasons to infuse ICT4D with gender awareness:
Access, use, production and control of technologies are defined by and in gender-power relations.  Designing research or interventions whilst being blind to gender power relationships will inevitably contribute to the reproduction of unequal gender relations. This may contribute to the undesirable breakdown of customs, traditions and relationships and may have negative impact on families and communities.
Gender blindness, still very much the norm in ICT4D research and practice, often implies an attitude of hidden and unexamined sexism. As we all have been socialized in a sexist world, a certain measure of sexism is inevitable just as the fact that we would be naturally blind to our own sexism in varying degrees. The commitment to become ‘gender aware’ is thus an expression of striving for excellence in research and practice.
Women’s contribution to their various communities is still less than it can be. Exploring new gender relationalities and involving women’s creativity and capacities will enrich the emerging knowledge society. Furthermore, both the desire for and the drive towards personal growth and community well-being are quintessential human needs. Concepts and strategies for sustainable development that are grounded in this understanding will attract participation and support.
The question however how to infuse a gender perspective in ICT4D is not easily answered. The following issues have to be considered:
Knowledge and tradition, from indigenous as well as ‘modern’ scientific origin, may be very gender - discriminatory and limiting to women and men.  This insight presents a dilemma between two essential imperatives: the need to respect ‘cultural and scientific freedom’ and the need to honor human equality and individual liberty. This tension cannot be solved philosophically; it has to be faced and worked through anew in every encounter in a dialogue that strives towards communicative symmetry.
Women and men’s dreams, aspirations and struggles have to be understood as responses and adaptations to the sexist cultural environments in which they live. Research and intervention methods and theories that do not allow for such ‘adaptive preferences’ to be discussed and contested may un-intentionally enhance existing disempowerment. It is therefore necessary to re-think concepts and strategies of participation, local involvement and ethics.
Furthermore, as ICT4D research is often multi-disciplinary and hence multi-method, sexism will reveal itself in a variety of ways, making it almost impossible to make it 'sexism-proof" by applying a general checklist.
It is clear that infusing gender into the field of ICT4D from a perspective of sustainable development will necessitate innovative approaches. New and comprehensive conceptual and methodological frameworks may have to be formulated. Reliable methods and techniques able to manage emerging complexities may have to be designed.
The following questions can be considered as guidelines:
In this track we are looking for case studies that will improve our empirical understanding as well as for papers that explore the theoretical and methodological issues raised here:
How do gender relations participate in the construction and expansion of the Information / Knowledge Society – paying attention to the diversity within each gender group and adopting an intersectional understanding of women and men?
What would be the most strategic research questions in the striving for gender equality in the Information / Knowledge Society?
What kind of new research themes, dimensions and strategies would ICT4D as a discipline generate when the values of gender equality and sustainable development would be integrated in its research quests?
What kind of research is needed to create new knowledge around the interface of gender, sustainable development and ICT4D?
How can we infuse the field of ICT4D with the debates on the meanings, strategies. goals and dimensions of development, foregrounding gender and sustainability, that are currently particularly vivid in the South?
Some references to consider:
Bonder, G. Creadoras en la Sociedad del Conocimiento  (in printing by FLACSO, Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Buskens, I. and Webb, I. (2009) African Women and ICTs: Investigating Technology, Gender and Empowerment. London: Zed Books / Ottawa: IDRC / Pretoria: UNISA
Bussbaum, M.C. (2000). Women and Human Development: The Capabilities Approach. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nzegwu, N. (2002). Questions of agency: Development, Donors, and Women of the South.” Jenda: A Journal of Culture and African Women Studies 2, 1.
Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. New York & Toronto: Anchor Books.
Vickers, Jeanne (1991) Women and the World Economic Crisis. St Martin's Press, New York.


Paper Format and submission guidelines:
For paper format and submission guidelines please refer to the main conference website.