Social Protection and Gender Inequality in Using Enabling Technology: An Analysis with the Framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract This article explores the relationship between social protection and gender gaps in using enabling technology with the perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as both are SDG Indicators. A cross-country comparative examination of 38 countries shows that gender disparity in mobile phone ownership is significantly and negatively correlated with the overall mobile phone owning rate and the proportion of females owning a mobile phone in a country. The coverage of social insurance programmes in a country has very weak and negative association with gender disparity in mobile phone ownership, and the correlation is statistically insignificant. The cross-country variations in mobile phone ownership are significant if gender is not considered. The results suggest that the social protection systems in these countries may not be gender-sensitive enough. A number of practical implications are provided based on the empirical evidence, and improvements in future studies are also suggested since this article is an initial output of a series of follow-up research in the author’s plan.