Digital Gender Gap, Gender Equality and National Institutional Freedom: A Dynamic Panel Analysis

Abstract

While digital gender gap is a growing field of research in Information Systems (IS), there remains a dearth of research focusing on it. The objective of this study is to investigate the relationship between the digital gender gap in mobile and internet usage and gender equality. Additionally, this study also examines the impact of national institutional freedoms on the aforementioned relationship. Utilizing the theoretical framework of intersecting inequalities and building upon existing literature on the gender digital divide, this study aims to explore the associations between disparities in mobile and internet usage, gender equality, and the extent of national institutional freedoms encompassing economic, political, and media domains. In pursuit of this objective, we undertake a dynamic panel data analysis using publicly accessible archival data at the country level. The results indicate that national institutions have a significant impact on the relationship between the digital gender gap in internet and mobile phone usage and gender equality. The discussion encompasses the significance of our findings for both study and practice.