Digital Empowerment of Women: The Role of the Internet in an Online University Setting
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59535/sehati.v2i3.326Keywords:
Digital Empowerment, Online Education, Internet Connectivity, Professional Development, Socio-Economic BarriersAbstract
This study explores the impact of digital empowerment on female students in online university settings, focusing on internet connectivity, digital tools, and barriers to success. Using a survey distributed through Google Forms, we collected responses from 120 female participants across four faculties: Medical, Economics, Computer Science, and Education. The purpose was to assess how reliable internet access influences academic performance and engagement, evaluate the effectiveness of digital resources for professional skill development, and identify obstacles affecting women's participation. Results revealed that reliable internet access significantly enhances academic performance and engagement. Digital tools were highly rated for their effectiveness in skill development and career advancement. However, technological limitations and socio-economic factors were identified as major barriers. The findings suggest that while online universities offer valuable opportunities, addressing technological and socio-economic challenges is crucial for maximizing their benefits. Recommendations include improving internet infrastructure and providing targeted support to overcome socio-economic barriers. Future research should explore the longitudinal effects of digital empowerment initiatives and their impact on long-term academic and career outcomes for women.
Downloads
References
Anunobi, C., & Mbagwu, F. C. (2009). Prevalence of gender discrepancy in Internet use in Nigeria: implication for women empowerment. African Research Review, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.4314/afrrev.v3i1.43572
Apuke, O. D., & Iyendo, T. O. (2018). University students' usage of the internet resources for research and learning: forms of access and perceptions of utility. Heliyon, 4(12). https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(18)34122-7
Beck, C. T. (2005). Benefits of participating in Internet interviews: Women helping women. Qualitative health research, 15(3), 411-422. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732304270837
Borah, S., & Kalita, H. C. (2019). Information communication technology and women empowerment. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 8(5S), 365-368. https://www.phytojournal.com/special-issue?year=2019&vol=8&issue=5S&ArticleId=9214
Hakimi, M., Quchi, M. M., Hasas, A., & Fazil, A. W. (2024). The Transformative Power of Information and Communication Technology in Empowering Women in Afghanistan. Journal of Social Science Utilizing Technology, 2(1), 275-287. https://doi.org/10.70177/jssut.v2i1.702
Hilbert, M. (2011, November). Digital gender divide or technologically empowered women in developing countries? A typical case of lies, damned lies, and statistics. In Women's studies international forum (Vol. 34, No. 6, pp. 479-489). Pergamon. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2011.07.001
Hussain, F., Amin, S. N., & Rezaie, R. (2024). ICTs for Afghan women's empowerment in the pre‐and new‐Taliban era: Roles of gender, education, and crises. The Electronic Journal of Information Systems in Developing Countries, e12326. https://doi.org/10.1002/isd2.12326
Hussain, N., & Phulpoto, S. (2024). Digital Literacy: Empowering Individuals in the Digital Age. Assyfa Learning Journal, 2(2), 70-83. https://doi.org/10.61650/alj.v2i2.231
Kwapong, O. A. T. F. (2008). An empirical study of information and communication technology for empowerment of rural women in Ghana. African Journal of Information & Communication Technology, 4(3). https://doi.org/10.5130/ajict.v4i3.970
Kyrgidou, L. P., & Petridou, E. (2013). Developing women entrepreneurs' knowledge, skills and attitudes through e‐mentoring support. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 20(3), 548-566. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-04-2013-0061
Miniesy, R., Elshahawy, E., & Fakhreldin, H. (2022). Social media's impact on the empowerment of women and youth male entrepreneurs in Egypt. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 14(2), 235-262. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-06-2021-0085
Golzard, V. (2020). Economic empowerment of Iranian women through the internet. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 35(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-11-2017-0145
Mughal Awan, M. Z., & Awan, S. A. (2023). Digital Empowerment: Advancing Women’s Economic Status in Developing Countries. Journal of Global Peace and Security Studies (JGPSS), 4(2). Retrieved from https://www.pa
Pattanaik, S., & Mishra, M. (2024). Empowering Women Through Ai: An Anticipation. Journal of Digital Economy, 3(2), 442-461. https://journalofdigitaleconomy.org/index.php/JDE/article/view/87
Quraishi, T., Ulusi, H., Muhid, A., Hakimi, M., & Olusi, M. R. (2024). Empowering students through digital literacy: A case study of successful integration in a higher education curriculum. Journal of Digital Learning and Distance Education, 2(9), 667-681. https://doi.org/10.56778/jdlde.v2i8.208
Shahbazi, H., Hakimi, M., Ulusi, H., Rahimi, B., & Quraishi, T. (2024). Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Women's Empowerment: A Comprehensive Survey. Edutrend: Journal of Emerging Issues and Trends in Education, 1(2), 108-120. https://doi.org/10.59110/edutrend.333
Shirazi, F. (2012). Information and communication technology and women empowerment in Iran. Telematics and Informatics, 29(1), 45-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tele.2011.02.001
Shukla, A., Kushwah, P., Jain, E., & Sharma, S. K. (2021). Role of ICT in emancipation of digital entrepreneurship among new generation women. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 15(1), 137-154. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEC-04-2020-0071
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Sama Nasrati, Dina Khalil, Lima Ahmadi, Tamanna Quraishi

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
All articles published in Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry (Sehati) are made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Under this license:
-
You are free to:
- Share — Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
- Adapt — Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
-
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and provide a link to the license. You must indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Barge Gul Khalili, Tamanna Quraishi, Fatana Dayan, Evaluating the Impact of Social Networks on Human Communication in the Digital Era , Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024): Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry
- Tamanna Quraishi, Manila Hakimi, Samira Yashar, Qadria Jan Akhundzada, Shakiba Mosazada, Somaya Azimi, The Role of Technologies on Women Entrepreneurship: A Case Study of Online University , Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2024): Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry
- Tamanna Quraishi, Sajeda Mohammad, Sheeba Raufi, Fatima Naimi, The Role of Women in Shaping the Future of Technology: Challenges and Opportunities , Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry: Vol. 2 No. 4 (2024): Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry
- Zia Ur Rahman Zia, Farkhunda Khodayar, Hadia khodayar, Tamanna Quraishi, The Impact of Antibiotic Awareness on Usage Among University Students in Kabul, Afghanistan , Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry: Vol. 2 No. 3 (2024): Socio-Economic and Humanistic Aspects for Township and Industry







