Read and respond to peer post Pick out some points you agree in their post and briefly share your knowledge. Answer separately

Peer Post 1

In further developed countries, technology has enabled women an increase in available roles and opportunities. The same way that technology reduced the need for manual labor to produce resources, technology has eased the burden of some issues and given a wider platform to participate in society, both physically and virtually (UN Women, 2019). The issue when tackling this advance is that in lesser developed countries, with more regressive views on gender roles or basic access, women are not provided these resources and opportunities. Even in 2022, an estimated 2.9 billion people around the world lack access to the internet, with a wide margin of that number being marginalized women (International Telecommunication Union, 2021). Further access and lowering of cost on these technologies must be undertaken globally to close the gap. The COVID shutdown particularly identified disparity in access to virtual education opportunities for students without broadband access within the United States (Marshall et al, 2021). Within some of the most developed countries, we received our own sample of the experience we allow for women worldwide daily.

I believe access to the internet while it has had its own consequences, has been largely beneficial to the definitions of societal norms. The internet has provided a comfortable space for young men to express themselves and explore their interests and even roles within the bounds of gender norms. I do not believe it is a coincidence that the increase in men that identify outside of heterosexual has increased (Jones, 2021) at around the same as internet access within the United States. I also believe the increase in specialized technology roles with remote work opportunities has expanded the available work roles, and thus gender roles from simply manual labor.

Peer Post 2

How did technology impact "women's work?"

Women's work throughout time has been summed up with the responsibilities of difficult tasks and family. Technology has slowly positively impacted the efficiency of the tasks for women such as the invention of thehippo roller, bicycle, and even female designed pants (UN Women, 2019). There would be more modernized inventions to come but the concept is still the same, quality of life and reduction of time in tasks.

What is the "digital gender divide" and what steps can be taken to close this gap?

The digital gender divide is the identification of social norms the still restrict women around the world today. In some countries there are still social norms and even rules set against women from owning a phone or digital business. They are still expected to manage households. There are also general limitations in certain areas of the world such as poor internet connectivity, a weak infrastructure, and limited data availability. These are all roadblocks to the access of digital financial services to women especially. Sadly, the only way these issues could be changed is if they are sincerely addressed by the financial inclusion communities, which is a bit unlikely in the areas that are still exercising those social norms. (Highet, C., Salman, A., & Singh, N. 2020)

Very little research has been done regarding technology, work, and masculinity. How do you think that technology has impacted gender roles for men in the workplace and in the home?

Technology has interestingly changed the dynamic of masculinity by opening up new role identities for both men and women. Throughout history, men were relied on as the "breadwinners" and the supporters of the family when it came to income. Meanwhile women were working full-time at home. In today's day and age, there has been a slight shift in roles. Women are able to take on new jobs with the use of technology and innovations, and in many cases, they can earn more than the man that they are with. This new dynamic has birthed the role of a "stay at home husband". The interesting aspect is that the social norm has always been the opposite, which can make for a sense of embarrassment to the man staying at home. (Reese, H. 2020)