In today’s digital age, access to technology and digital literacy is critical for full societal participation. Digital proficiency is crucial for both social and economic integration, for tasks like job searching, enrolling in educational opportunities, navigating healthcare systems, and even maintaining connections with family and friends.
While the Nordic countries are renowned for their high levels of digitalisation and high scores in digital competency indexes, certain groups remain excluded. Immigrant women, particularly newcomers, refugees, and those with weaker socio-economic background and limited national language proficiency, often face significant barriers to digital inclusion.
The Nordic countries have experienced substantial growth in their immigrant populations. Research suggests that female immigrants in these regions often face increased health challenges, limited access to healthcare, and lower employment rates compared to native-born residents.
Focus of the project
This research specifically focuses on immigrant women in the Nordic countries. Knowledge gaps persist regarding what the Nordic countries are doing for female immigrants to become digitally included, how these efforts differ between the Nordic countries, and what are the next steps needed to be taken to allow digital inclusion for all Nordic residents. The project focuses on understanding the barriers that prevent these women from fully accessing and engaging in the digital society. These barriers may include limitations in language proficiency or digital literacy, cultural differences in technology use, and unfamiliarity with the digital landscape.
The project will explore the current political landscape and existing initiatives for digital inclusion of immigrant women, as well as analyse user challenges, needs, and solutions. The research project seeks to identify best practices and effective strategies for integrating immigrant women into the digital society. By focusing on this specific population, this research project contributes valuable insights to the broader conversation on digital inclusion in the Nordic countries.
Aim, Research Questions & Methods
The project aims to understand the barriers hindering the full digital inclusion of immigrant women in the Nordic countries and identify best practices for promoting their access and engagement in the digital society.
The research will explore:
- To what extent do current digitalisation/digital inclusion policies in Nordic countries specifically address the needs of immigrant women?
- What are the specific barriers that hinder immigrant women from fully accessing and engaging in the digital society in the Nordic countries?
- What existing initiatives and policies in the Nordic countries are most effective in promoting the digital inclusion of immigrant women, and how can these best practices be further improved?
The project will involve policy analysis, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews. The outcome will be a working paper, exploring what is the difference between the political level and the challenges and solutions at the civil society level (e.g., NGOs), concluding with key takeaways.
