Tuesday 12 November 2019

‘Just having a computer doesn’t make sense’: The digital divide from the perspective of mothers with a low socio-economic position

an article by Nicole S Goedhart and Jacqueline EW Broerse (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands), Rolinka Kattouw (Oostwest, The Netherlands) and Christine Dedding (Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands) published in New Media & Society Volume 21 Issue 11-2 (November 2019)

Abstract

The introduction of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has been shown to play a role in reinforcing existing social inequalities.

This study aims to gain insights into the perspectives, experiences and needs of disadvantaged groups with respect to ICT. In the Netherlands, a relatively large and important group of non-users are mothers with a low socio-economic position (SEP). Little attention has been paid to understanding why mothers with a low SEP scarcely use ICTs.

In an explorative participatory study in Amsterdam, using observations, interviews and focus groups, our results show that reinforcing factors related to poverty, motherhood, the complexity of ICT and being first-generation immigrant influence access.

The mothers’ needs are multifaceted and go beyond the simple distribution of ICT devices. ICT education should be tailored and integrated into existing social services and the daily lives of the mothers. Moreover, policymakers should pay attention to adapting the online information services to the mothers’ strengths.

Full text (PDF 19pp)


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