Women and Cybercafés in Uttar Pradesh

The study was conducted in two mid-sized towns in India, namely, the Bhadohi and Ferozabad districts of Uttar Pradesh. We analyzed the outcome of structured in-depth interviews with 100 women users and 100 women nonusers of cybercafés. We identify the user profiles, usage patterns, and reasons for the low rate of cybercafé usage by women in northern India. Our study reveals that cybercafé usage by women is most common among female students, followed by educated women from the upper socioeconomic class. They access information mostly relating to education, employment, and entertainment. Users usually go to cybercafés during the afternoon and evening when they are relatively free from other duties. Overall, we observed that few women use cybercafés, and those who do have many socioeconomic restrictions placed on on them; these obstacles are tied to social, cultural, structural (time, location, illiteracy), and environmental issues. Women users, however, found cybercafés very useful. To close the gap between the value women perceive from cybercafé usage and actual usage, several suggestions can be made: (1) enhance literacy and awareness among women, (2) sensitize cybercafé operators to genderspecific issues and environment, (3) make content on gender issues available in local languages, (4) increase emphasis on English in schools, and (5) implement gender-specific welfare programs more thoroughly. These initiatives will not only enhance the sustainability of cybercafés but will provide wider Internet access to disadvantaged people in developing areas.