Mains Marathon

Approach :

• Briefly explain technology’s role in modern society.
• Mention the role of technology in empowering women.
• Highlight the role of technology in endangering women.
• Conclude with a scholarly observation.

Introduction:

Technology in the 21st century has emerged as a transformative force, redefining access, equity, and inclusion. In India, it plays a dual role in women’s lives—acting as both a powerful enabler of rights and independence and a source of digital vulnerability and harm. This paradox reflects the broader societal challenges of regulating, distributing, and deploying technological tools in a gender-sensitive manner.

Body :

Technology as an Instrument of Empowerment

• Access to Education and Information:
  • Government initiatives like SWAYAM, e-Pathshala, and DIKSHA offer online learning platforms, especially valuable in remote and underserved areas.
  • Social media and YouTube have become tools for informal skill learning and awareness on legal rights, menstrual health, and financial literacy.
• Economic Empowerment:
  • Platforms like Meesho, Amazon Saheli, and Udyam Sakhi allow women entrepreneurs to reach wider markets.
  • Gig and remote work opportunities (e.g., digital freelancing, online tutoring) enable flexible income-generation from home, especially in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
• Healthcare and Well-being:
  • Apps like eSanjeevani, mMitra, and Aarogya Setu provide access to maternal health, reproductive services, and emergency healthcare.
  • Telemedicine bridges the rural-urban divide, improving access to gynaecological and mental health consultations.
• Safety and Legal Support:
  • Safety apps like Raksha, Himmat, and 112 India connect users to police in emergencies.
  • Cybercrime reporting portals and helplines (1930, 1090) help women file complaints without physical visits to police stations.
• Social Mobilization and Voice:
  • Movements like #MeTooIndia and #DigitalNari have empowered women to raise issues of harassment, discrimination, and systemic bias in the public sphere.

Technology as a Source of Endangerment

• Cybercrime and Online Harassment:
  • Cases of morphing, revenge porn, cyberstalking, and trolling have increased significantly.
  • According to the NCRB 2022 report, 65,893 cybercrime cases were registered across India, with 3,434 cases specifically recorded as sexual exploitation.
• AI-Driven Threats:
  • Deepfake technology has been misused to produce non-consensual explicit content using AI, targeting public figures and common users alike.
  • The viral spread on social platforms like Instagram and Reddit poses grave reputational and psychological harm.
• Digital Gender Divide:
  • NSSO (2021) shows that only 33% of rural women have regular internet access compared to 58% of rural men.
  • This inequality limits access to schemes like Jan Dhan Yojana, e-governance platforms, and online grievance redressal.
• Tech-enabled Patriarchy and Surveillance
  • In some cases, technology is used by male guardians to track, control, or restrict women’s mobility and online interactions.
  • Social media becomes a tool for moral policing, especially in conservative rural setups.

Conclusion:

As Melvin Kranzberg (a pioneering historian of technology) aptly observed, “Technology is neither good nor bad; nor is it neutral.” Its impact depends on the values embedded in its design and the intent guiding its use. To ensure that the digital revolution truly serves all, especially women, technology must be shaped by inclusion, safety, and ethical responsibility.