Results of a study
Tunisia is situated on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa
and has just over 10 million inhabitants. It is a melting pot of
several civilizations — Berber, Carthaginian, Roman, Byzantine
and Arab — and is archeologically one of the richest countries
in the world.
Despite having no natural resources, Tunisia is an emerging
country which has achieved laudable economic ratings. Its success
is founded on two major pillars, both presenting challenges — equality between men and women, and education for all.
With regard to women’s rights, the Code of Personal Status
(women’s rights) was promulgated as soon as the country gained
independence in 1956. The Code abolished polygamy, and
Article 6 of the Tunisian Constitution enshrines the principle of
equality of all citizens. Tunisia is a signatory to the Copenhagen
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
In the field of education, the schooling rate is the same for
girls and boys. Schooling is free of charge and compulsory. The
obligation to attend school has been strengthened since 1991 by
means of a law which penalizes withdrawal of children from the
school curriculum, especially young girls.
Survey of women and ICT
Tunisia is pursuing a sustained policy of developing and promoting
information and communication technologies (ICT). This
is abundantly clear in the Xth and XIth development plans, in the
national ICT strategy, and in the master plan of the Ministry of
Communication Technologies. Because gender issues have been
identified as a national strategy, calling for a comparative approach
between men and women in all sectors, the Ministry of
Communication Technologies took the initiative of conducting a
survey on “Women and ICT in Tunisia”. The study was carried out
with the support of a loan from the World Bank for promotion of
the ICT sector in Tunisia.
The objectives of the study were:
to analyse the situation on the basis of indicators and existing
data on women and ICT;
to define, develop and select specific indicators for the project
and determine methods for calculating or estimating
them from existing data or from surveys, taking into account
relevant international standards in this regard;
to analyse data by gender, and study any disparities between
men and women, between sectors of development,
and between urban and rural populations, pinpointing the
strengths and weaknesses of the situation analysed;
to establish a database with measurable indicators on women
to work out a methodology for the establishment of a gender
The study was carried out in four regions, and the sample
spans 11 governorates:
Greater Tunis (the capital city), which comprises populations
coming from various regions of the republic and displays a
great diversity of social categories;
the Governorates of Siliana and Kasserine, whose population
is predominantly rural;
the Governorates of Sfax and Sousse, which are both university
and industrial poles;
the Governorates of Gafsa and Medenine, which are located
in the south of the country and which both include a region
where the economy is dominated by a single industry.
The size of the sample was a population of 1500 people
(aged 15 years or more) made up of 1200 women and 300 men.
The sample of 300 men was selected as a control group, to enable
the study to assess any gender-based disparities.
The sampling criteria used reflect the variables that have a
major impact on women’s and men’s positioning in relation to
ICT. These variables, which are cited in many previous studies
carried out in different countries, are: age; level of education; and
type of living environment (rural, urban or peri-urban).
Snapshot of the results of the survey
The sample as whole
Mobile phones: Four out of five Tunisians among the people
polled possess a mobile phone (79.1 per cent). A third of the people
who possess a mobile (31.2 per cent) state that they are not
its sole user. Half of the people having a mobile phone say that
they use it for both professional and personal purposes, while the
other half use it solely for personal purposes. Average monthly
mobile phone expenditure amounts to TND 30.4.
Computer: Among the sample population, 43.9 per cent
state that they have a computer, while 46.4 per cent state that
they use a computer. Of those using a computer, 75 per cent do
so for personal purposes, while 48.9 per cent use it in their professional
work. Asked where they use a computer, 28.4 per cent
say they use it in the office or at work, 69 per cent at home and
22.6 per cent in an Internet café (“Publinet”).
Among people who have received training, 84.2 per cent followed
their training in a formal and organized context (school,
vocational training institute, university, private training institute)
and 15.8 per cent in a non-organized or informal context.
Internet: In terms of Internet usage, 34.6 per cent of respondents
state that they have used the Internet and know
how to connect and browse. For those who have not used the
Internet, the reasons for non-usage are, in order of frequency,
lack of interest (57.8 per cent), lack of skills (“too complicated”)
(16.6 per cent), lack of free time (10.6 per cent) and distance to
the places where Internet access is available (8 per cent).
|Photo credit: AFP/ Fethi Belaid
The most common points of connection are the home
(48.5 per cent), an Internet café (47.1 per cent) and the office
(21 per cent). Among Internet users, 87 per cent connect to the
Internet for personal purposes, 55.2 per cent for professional purposes,
71.6 per cent for searches and documentation, 66.9 per
cent for interpersonal communication, 41.7 per cent for group
communication, 43.5 per cent for games and leisure, 30.4 per
cent for media and news, 20 per cent to pay bills, 11.5 per cent
for administrative transactions, and only 6.5 per cent for online
shopping. According to the survey, 24 per cent of respondents
have an e-mail address.
Comparing men and women
In terms of ownership of a mobile phone, the difference between
men and women is not statistically significant, as shown
in the charts. These charts also show the differences found between
women and men in terms of computer ownership and use
The study found that, in the office, women connect to the
Internet less frequently than men (18.6 per cent as against
29.9 per cent). Men use the Internet more frequently for interpersonal
communication and for obtaining administrative
Factors affecting the use of ICT by women
Among the female respondents, 34 per cent know how to
connect and browse the Internet; 34 per cent actually use the
Internet; 57 per cent do not use the Internet because they do not
see the benefit and 9 per cent because there is no place nearby
where they can connect. Another finding is that 23 per cent connect
at least once a month, 19 per at least once a week, and
26 per cent at least once a day.
Geographical environment: Fewer women own a mobile
phone in rural areas than in urban areas. The use of mobile
phones by women in rural areas is characterized by: personal
rather than professional use; more difficulties using a mobile;
more often shared with other people; and to a greater extent,
usage is limited to calls.
Few women in rural or peri-urban areas own a computer or
know how to use one. In peri-urban areas, women who use a
computer rarely own it.
Women living in urban areas are more likely than those living
in rural areas to know how to browse the Internet and actually do
so. They connect more regularly and more frequently, and spend
more time on the Internet. Almost all of the women who have an
e-mail address live in urban areas.
Educational level: Unsurprisingly, the more highly trained
the women are, the more they use ICT tools. Also, the younger
the women, the more aware they are of the pitfalls of ICT.
Professional status: Teachers, women working in industry,
and as domestic helps are those who make the greatest use of
mobile phones for their professional activities. Women employed
in administration and in the ICT sector are those most likely to
own a computer and use it frequently in the office. The women
least able to use a computer are those employed in agriculture
and as domestic helps.
Profiles of women reflecting their relationship to ICT
The results of the survey make it possible to categorize
women in terms of their relationship to ICT. The characteristics
of the women and the proportion falling into each category are
“Non-committed users” (52.38 per cent)
These are women who are less likely to have a mobile phone,
spend less on calls, and for whom computers, the Internet or
bank cards are quite likely to be unknown territory. More of the
women in this category than in the other categories are illiterate
or have received only primary education, are relatively old, are
housewives or work in agriculture or in home-help, and live in a
“Standard users” (13.50 per cent)
Almost all of these women own a mobile phone, use a computer,
use Word and browse the Internet. They have generally
received a secondary education and are single, and an aboveaverage
proportion of them are employed in administration or
are seeking employment.
“Seasoned users” (20.58 per cent)
These are women who almost all use a mobile phone and a
computer. A higher than average number of them have received
formal or informal ICT training. They spend time browsing the
Internet and around half of them have an e-mail address. A sizeable
proportion of this category are young women, having received
secondary or higher education, and 80 per cent of them
come from an urban environment.
“Committed users” (13.33 per cent)
It is these women who devote the highest budget to the mobile
phone. They all use a computer and almost all of them enjoy
ready access to a computer, use the Internet, have an e-mail address,
have received training in ICT, use more than one type of
software and are active on the Internet. Almost all of this category
of women live in urban areas. They are more highly educated
than the women in the other categories and are relatively young.
The proportion of schoolchildren and students is greater in this
category than in the other categories.
|Photo credit: AFP/Jiu/Imaginechina
Establishment of a database
on women and ICT
The starting point for this study on women and ICT was the
hypothesis that there may be a digital divide of some magnitude
between women and men. Hence, the aim of the project was to
propose actions to bridge any gaps found.
The results of the survey have shown that the digital divide
exists more between different categories of women than between
women and men. The discriminating factors between women are
age, geographical environment and level of education.
It has therefore been decided to put in place a strategy for
the establishment of a database to periodically measure progress
made in bridging the divide between the different categories of
women. Indicators have been identified for periodic assessment
of the situation concerning women and ICT: process indicators to
measure progress in actions undertaken; and outcome indicators
to measure the actual reduction in disparities.
In order to exploit the database, it has been decided to
analyse data in three dimensions: time (evolution of indicators
through time); space (rural/urban environment, governorate, region);
and cross-tabulation of the different variables according to
needs. The data will be updated at least every three years.
The indicators selected will enable the country to measure the
reduction in the gap between the different categories of women
users of ICT: non-committed; standard; seasoned; and committed.
The list of indicators has been incorporated into the database
hosted by the Ministry of Communication Technologies, thereby
ensuring that due account is taken of the gender dimension.
This study has highlighted the reality of the gender-neutral environment
in Tunisia in terms of women and ICT. The results of the
survey show the high degree of impact of an environment which is
conducive to ICT access without discrimination as to gender.
From a detailed analysis of the figures obtained from the
survey, it may be concluded that there are no major differences
between women and men in Tunisia in terms of ownership and
use of various ICT tools. Also, the hypothesis of a digital divide
between men and women has not been confirmed
What emerges from the study above all is that a country that
opts for inclusive education and gender equality in its laws and in its
practices will enter the digital age more effectively. This is the case
of Tunisia which, despite lacking in natural resources, has thrown its
weight behind the development of human resources — men and
women alike. It is a satisfying observation that the economic impact
of ICT on gross domestic product (GDP) in Tunisia has also been
achieved through the positive role played by women in ICT.
Interview with Faïza Azzouz, Project Leader
How did the idea of conducting a study on
women and ICT in Tunisia come into being?
A number of factors prompted this study:
As a signatory to the Copenhagen Convention, Tunisia reports
to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination
of Discrimination against Women on the status of women
in all sectors of development, including ICT, in which regard
it was decided to conduct a survey in order to have reliable
Tunisia recognizes the importance of implementing the
recommendations of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS), which include a recommendation on reducing
the digital divide between men and women.
Can the sample be deemed representative?
Yes. To the extent possible, we have sought to cover the entire
territory by selecting different regions that are representative
of the country from the geographical, economic and sociological
standpoints. The male control group allowed for the gender
What do you think of the results?
The results show that we
are not talking about miracles
but about reaping what one
sows. In other words, when a
country sets its sights on education
and on equality between
men and women, it is sure to
harvest the fruits of that policy. It is also clear that we must not
neglect basic development in our pursuit of ICT. These technologies
are not only consumer goods, but also the essential tools for
development and, as the case may be, for catching up.
What do you see as the potential regional and
international impact of the results of the study?
The study clearly demonstrates the value of making proper
use of ICT while remaining firmly focused on basic development.
It is my hope that, with the aid of regional and international organizations,
it will be possible to launch an Africa-wide study of
women and ICT in order to gain an accurate awareness of how
This article was initially planned for publication in September 2010, and was updated in March-April 2011 for
publication here as a case study on Women and ICT. The results of the survey conducted by the Ministry of Communication Technologies were first presented on the
occasion of National Tunisian Women’s Day (13 August 2009) in the presence of various organizations, including
ITU, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the Arab Information and Communication
Technologies Organization (AICTO) and the National Council for ICT (France).