I am a post graduate in Science (Geology) from Patna University in India and had dreamt of becoming a geologist and working with some oil exploration company. By a sheer stroke of chance I landed up in journalism. In hindsight, I dare say that it was a good thing that happened to me. I enjoyed a very active and challenging journalistic life during my five years with an acclaimed Indian English daily, 'The Hindustan Times'.

I was involved in a number of welfare projects organized and sponsored by the Indian government, UNICEF and some international funding agencies. I was also on Doordarshan's (official TV channel of India) panel for discussions on issues of legal and social importance.

Marriage brought me to Singapore where I worked in an Executive club as Marketing and Communications Manager.

And now I am having my second stint in academics pursuing my masters in the CNM Programme, at NUS since Jan, 2005.

Dr T. T. Sreekumar

Gender Digital Divide: Issues and Approaches from a socio-cultural perspective

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has impacted women all over the world in myriad number of ways. Women are increasingly taking advantage of ICT in all spheres of life, thus confirming that ICT can be a tool to promote gender equality and enhance the economic, political and social empowerment of women. However, there has not been a uniform accrual of the oft mentioned the benefits of the ICT revolution across the socio-political and geographic spectrum. Substantial differences exist between women and men in access to and impact of ICT. This has added new dimension to the much debated 'gender divide', termed as 'Gender Digital Divide'.

The research aims to critically evaluate the issue of 'Gender Digital Divide', analyze the existing approaches and initiatives towards bridging this chasm in South Asia and identify their merits and shortcomings. The research would focus on identifying region specific socio-cultural factors and their impact on the success (or failure) of such ICT initiatives.