The digital divide at the intersection of gender and disability

Globally, there are more women than men living with a disability: one in five women live with a disability compared to one in eight men. Many women lack adequate access to healthcare and safe employment and face persistent gender-based violence in many places, which results in ill-health for many and, as a consequence, becoming disabled. For women with disabilities, the situation is further complicated as they face not only gender inequalities but, also, disability-related discrimination and stigma. Women with disabilities are sometimes perceived as unable to fulfil their expected roles or as being powerless which can result in their isolation and marginalisation.

For women with disabilities, mobile can provide life-changing benefits and help them to overcome these intersectional challenges. Previous research by the GSMA has shown that women associate mobile with improved wellbeing and that persons with disabilities find mobile helpful to access different services (such as healthcare, education and employment) and to perform everyday tasks (including shopping, work and school activities). However, little is known about the extent of the digital inclusion of women with disabilities.

Our GSMA Connected Women and Assistive Tech teams analysed data from the GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey 2019 (covering seven low- and middle-income countries) to better understand the characteristics of digital inclusion of women with disabilities. The message is clear: women with disabilities are disproportionately digitally excluded and are at risk of being left behind in our ever more digital societies.

Women with disabilities have low levels of mobile ownership and are the least likely to own smartphones

Women with disabilities have the lowest rate of mobile ownership in all the research countries except for Kenya (see Figure 1). Remarkably, we found that even in countries where the mobile ownership gender gap is inversed or close to zero, such as Mexico and Brazil, a gender and disability gap exists. The disability gap across the seven countries is relatively large, ranging from seven per cent in Kenya to 47 per cent in Bangladesh. Our analysis suggests that disability is a significant predictor of mobile ownership and compounds the gender gap.

Figure 1 Mobile ownership by persons with and without disability, by gender and countryA bar graph showing mobile ownership by persons with and without disability, by gender and country. For each country, three gaps are shown: the gender and disability gap, the disability gap and the gender gap.  The data values for Bangladesh are: * Men without disabilities: 88% * Women without disabilities: 64% * Men with disabilities: 54% * Women with disabilities: 30% * In Bangladesh, the gender and disability gap is 66%, the disability gap is 47% and the gender gap is 29%.  The data values for Brazil are:  * Men without disabilities: 85% * Women without disabilities: 88% * Men with disabilities: 71% * Women with disabilities: 70% * n Brazil, the gender and disability gap is 18%, the disability gap is 19% and the gender gap is minus 1%.  The data values for India are:  * Men without disabilities: 81% * Women without disabilities: 66% * Men with disabilities: 64% * Women with disabilities: 51% * In India, the gender and disability gap is 37%, the disability gap is 23% and the gender gap is 20%.  The data values for Kenya are: * Men without disabilities: 92% * Women without disabilities: 87% * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 79%  * Women with disabilities: 85% * In Kenya, the gender and disability gap is 8%, the disability gap is 7% and the gender gap is 5%.  The data values for Mexico are: * Men without disabilities: 86% * Women without disabilities: 86% * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 76% * Women with disabilities: 67% * In Mexico, the gender and disability gap is 23%, the disability gap is 18% and the gender gap is 2%.  The data values for Pakistan are: * Men without disabilities: 81% * Women without disabilities: 51% * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 69% * Women with disabilities: 38% * In Pakistan, the gender and disability gap is 54%, the disability gap is 28% and the gender gap is 38%.  The data values for Uganda are:  * Men without disabilities: 85% * Women without disabilities: 76% * Men with disabilities: 71% * Women with disabilities: 41% * In Uganda, the gender and disability gap is 51%, the disability gap is 37% and the gender gap is 17%.

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019. Based on survey results for adults aged 18 and over. Mobile ownership is defined as having sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a SIM), and using it at least once a month. n = from 39 to 226 for women with disabilities, n = from 425 to 873 for women without disabilities, n = from 20 to 210 for men with disabilities and n = from 423 to 1069 for men without disabilities.

Regardless of gender, persons with disabilities perceive mobile as less beneficial than non-disabled persons

In past research, we found that mobile ownership has been associated with wellbeing benefits for both men and women. We also found this to be the case in our research. When asked about perceived benefits of mobile in the Consumer Survey, both men and women with and without disabilities in Brazil, India, Kenya and Uganda reported overwhelmingly that mobile helped them with their chores, provided them with a feeling of safety and gave them convenient access to information (see Figure 2).

However, persons with disabilities reported the benefits to a lesser extent than non-disabled persons. This is not to say that benefits were not perceived: for instance, in Kenya, all women with disabilities reported that mobile helped them with work, school and home chores. Although mobile may have a strong role to play as an assistive technology, it is still perceived as least useful by persons with disabilities. Even when women with disabilities own a mobile, they do not benefit from it as much as other groups. Findings on the perceived benefits of mobile reveal opportunities to make mobile more relevant to those who are benefitting the least.

Figure 2 Comparison of the reported benefits of mobile in Brazil, India, Pakistan and UgandaMatrix showing the reported benefits of mobile ownership in Brazil, India, Pakistan and Uganda by men and women with and without disabilities. The first row shows the proportion of people that that perceived that mobile help them with daily work, school or home chores. The data values for Brazil are:  * Men with disabilities: 81% * Women with disabilities: 76% * Men without disabilities: 85% * Women without disabilities: 81% The data values for India are:  * Men with disabilities: 46% * Women with disabilities: 47% * Men without disabilities: 83% * Women without disabilities: 74% The data values for Kenya are:  * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 86% * Women with disabilities: 100% * Men without disabilities: 94% * Women without disabilities: 88% The data values for Uganda are:  * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 91% * Women with disabilities: 82% * Men without disabilities: 95% * Women without disabilities: 91% The second row shows the proportion of people that that perceived that mobile provides a feeling of safety. The data values for Brazil are:  * Men with disabilities: 55% * Women with disabilities: 54% * Men without disabilities: 66% * Women without disabilities: 64% The data values for India are:  * Men with disabilities: 48% * Women with disabilities: 50% * Men without disabilities: 84% * Women without disabilities: 79% The data values for Kenya are:  * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 75% * Women with disabilities: 85% * Men without disabilities: 84% * Women without disabilities: 85% The data values for Uganda are:  * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 89% * Women with disabilities: 88% * Men without disabilities: 91% * Women without disabilities: 92% The third row shows the proportion of people that that perceived that mobile gives them convenient access to useful information. The data values for Brazil are:  * Men with disabilities: 77% * Women with disabilities: 73% * Men without disabilities: 87% * Women without disabilities: 90% The data values for India are:  * Men with disabilities: 44% * Women with disabilities: 48% * Men without disabilities: 80% * Women without disabilities: 68% The data values for Kenya are:  * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 87% * Women with disabilities: 97% * Men without disabilities: 94% * Women without disabilities: 87% The data values for Uganda are:  * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 86% * Women with disabilities: 89% * Men without disabilities: 90% * Women without disabilities: 86%

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019. Based on survey results for adults aged 18 and over. Respondents have sole or main use of a mobile phone. n = from 31 to 103 for women with disabilities, n = from 290 to 461 for women without disabilities, n = from 16 to 127 for men with disabilities, and n = from 348 to 837 for men without disabilities. * Denotes small sample size (n<30) and should be interpreted with caution.

Relevance, literacy and skills, and safety and security are common barriers to mobile ownership for women with disabilities

When looking at the reported reasons for not owning a mobile, there are a few common barriers for women with disabilities that are important to highlight. For 70 per cent of women with disabilities in Uganda, information security was a reported barrier while in Bangladesh and India the lack of relevance of mobile was reported by nearly 40 per cent of women with disabilities (see Figure 3). In Pakistan, a range of barriers were reported by more than half of women with disabilities. These barriers consisted of: the lack of knowledge of how to use a phone; the lack of relevance of mobile; strangers contacting them or information security. Strategies to close the mobile ownership gap experienced by women with disabilities need to address these barriers.

Figure 3 Comparison of reported barriers to mobile ownership by women with disabilities in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and UgandaMatrix showing the reported barriers to mobile ownership by women with disabilities in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Uganda.  The data values for the Access barriers are: * ID: 14% in Bangladesh, 19% in India, 18% in Pakistan and 17% Uganda. * Family does not approve: 22% in Bangladesh, 18% in India, 17% in Pakistan and 9% Uganda * Access to agent support: 9% in Bangladesh, 15% in India, 20% in Pakistan and 20% Uganda * Network coverage: 14% in Bangladesh, 19% in India, 11% in Pakistan and 17% Uganda * Battery charging: 17% in Bangladesh, 30% in India, 38% in Pakistan and 12% Uganda The data values for the Affordability barriers are: * Credit cost: 15% in Bangladesh, 23% in India, 38% in Pakistan and 12% Uganda. * Handset/SIM cost: 23% in Bangladesh, 24% in India, 15% in Pakistan and 27% Uganda The data values for the Literacy and skills barriers are: * Reading/writing difficulties: 17% in Bangladesh, 18% in India, 33% in Pakistan and 12% Uganda. * Do not know how to use a mobile: 36% in Bangladesh, 32% in India, 52% in Pakistan and 24% Uganda The data values for the Relevance barriers are: * A mobile phone is not relevant for me: 38% in Bangladesh, 38% in India, 57% in Pakistan and 68% Uganda. The data values for the Safety and Security barriers are: * Strangers contacting me: 33% in Bangladesh, 38% in India, 56% in Pakistan and 48% Uganda. * Personal safety: 23% in Bangladesh, 31% in India, 32% in Pakistan and 48% Uganda. * Information security: 17% in Bangladesh, 37% in India, 51% in Pakistan and 70% Uganda.

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019. Base: Non-mobile owners aged 18+ Mobile ownership is defined as a person having sole or main use of a SIM card (or a mobile phone that does not require a SIM), and using it at least once a month. Percentages indicate the proportion of non-mobile owners who responded, “This is something that is stopping me” to the question, “For each of the possible reasons that I read out, please indicate whether this is something that stops you at all from having a mobile phone or SIM card, connected to a mobile operator’s network.” n = from 29 to 112. * Denotes a small sample size (n<30) and should be interpreted with caution.

Mobile internet use is low amongst women with disabilities

The levels of mobile internet use were the lowest amongst women with disabilities in the seven markets surveyed. Similar to mobile ownership, disability plays a factor in mobile internet use and compounds the gender gap. Brazil and Mexico, both countries with a negative gender gap in mobile internet use, have relatively large gender and disability gaps (more than 40 per cent). In Bangladesh, not a single woman with a disability reported having used mobile internet in the last three months.

Figure 4 Mobile internet use by gender and disability prevalenceA bar graph showing mobile internet use by gender and disability prevalence. * Men without disabilities: 35% * Women without disabilities: 18% * Men with disabilities: 8% * Women with disabilities: 0% * In Bangladesh, the gender and disability gap is 100%, the disability gap is 87% and the gender gap is 52% The data values for Brazil are:  * Men without disabilities: 75% * Women without disabilities: 80% * Men with disabilities: 43% * Women with disabilities: 43% * In Brazil, the gender and disability gap is 43%, the disability gap is 44% and the gender gap is minus 3% The data values for India are:  * Men without disabilities: 43% * Women without disabilities: 21% * Men with disabilities: 36% * Women with disabilities: 19% * In India, the gender and disability gap is 55%, the disability gap is 17% and the gender gap is 50% The data values for Kenya are: * Men without disabilities: 50% * Women without disabilities: 34% * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 20%  * Women with disabilities: 12%  * In Kenya, the gender and disability gap is 75%, the disability gap is 64% and the gender gap is 34% The data values for Mexico are: * Men without disabilities: 72% * Women without disabilities: 75% * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 54% * Women with disabilities: 41% * In Mexico, the gender and disability gap is 44%, the disability gap is 38% and the gender gap is minus 1% The data values for Pakistan are: * Men without disabilities: 38% * Women without disabilities: 20% * Men with disabilities (small sample size): 11% * Women with disabilities: 8% * In Pakistan, the gender and disability gap is 80%, the disability gap is 71% and the gender gap is 49% The data values for Uganda are:  * Men without disabilities: 25% * Women without disabilities: 14% * Men with disabilities: 9% * Women with disabilities: 5% * In Uganda, the gender and disability gap is 80%, the disability gap is 68% and the gender gap is 48%

Source: GSMA Intelligence Consumer Survey, 2019. Based on survey results for adults aged 18 and over. Respondents were asked if they have used the internet on a mobile phone in the last 3 months. n = from 39 to 226 for women with disabilities, n = from 425 to 873 for women without disabilities, n = from 20 to 210 for men with disabilities and n = from 423 to 1069 for men without disabilities.

What can be done to improve the digital inclusion of women with disabilities?

Women with disabilities face a diverse range of barriers to mobile ownership and mobile internet use. Actions taken to improve their digital inclusion need to consider the complexities at the intersectionality of gender and disability status. It is imperative to understand how disabilities may change their experiences across the mobile internet user journey (see Figure 5). Raising the awareness of accessible mobile products and services is fundamental for the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities.

Figure 5 The mobile internet user journey of women with disabilities

Figure showing stages of the mobile internet user journey of women with disabilities, which include a parallel journey of the digital skills for accessibility as follows: Stage 1 is Mobile ownership and, in parallel, Awareness of accessible mobile products and services. Stage 2 is Awareness of mobile internet, stage 3 is Mobile internet adoption and stage regular mobile internet use. Alongside these three stages is Regular use of accessibility features.

Based on our research, in order to effectively address the barriers that women with disabilities face regarding their digital inclusion, the following actions are required:

  • Developing and raising awareness of relevant products and services to address the needs of women with disabilities
  • Address safety and security concerns experienced by women with disabilities
  • Support women with disabilities to acquire and develop their digital skills
  • Improve the availability of disability and gender-disaggregated data on mobile access and use

Through these actions, we can find innovative and effective approaches to ensuring that digital development does not leave women with disabilities behind.

Download the research now 
This initiative is currently funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and supported by the GSMA and its members.
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