Cameroonian men are more 'connected' than women – Study

A new study by Internet Without Borders and the Foundation web has revealed that the usage of the internet by women in developing countries, specifically in Cameroon.

According to the study, Cameroonian men are more connected than the women.

The study was based on a survey of 1,000 people: 250 men and 750 women in poor urban areas of Cameroon. This study found that almost all women and all men had a telephone. However, women have less than 50% chance of accessing the Internet than men in the same communities.

The most striking findings in the city of Yaounde are:

The Internet access and usage remain unequal - Only 36% of women surveyed use the Internet while the figure rose to 45% among male respondents.

Digital literacy and cost were the two main barriers for women to access and use the Internet. They were asked why they do not currently use the Internet: 26% of women said the main reason is that they do not know how to use it while 17% of them, with the most important reason, said that they cannot afford it.

Women are more victims of gender-based violence than men and they experience more violence. 17% of women have been victims of threats or intimidation when using a mobile and / or Internet (this is the case for 11% of male respondents).

However, 25% of these women were threatened or have encountered direct personal intimidation 10 times or more when using a mobile in the last two years while men have suffered 8 times.