Gender digital divide and political participation in Arab Countries

Hicham Raïq^1*Saddek Rabah¹Abdulaziz Al Mannai¹Abdelsamad Mohamed¹Asma H. Malkawi¹Mohammed Tabishat²Fatima Al-Fahim¹Rafaa Al-Marri¹

• ¹Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
• ²Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan

Introduction: This study examines the gendered digital divide and its impact on political participation in ten Arab countries. It focuses on how unequal internet access influences political engagement in a region characterized by some of the lowest global rates of women's political participation. Methodology: The study uses data from the Arab Opinion Index and applies multivariate logistic regression stratified by gender. It analyzes the digital divide with internet usage, types of social media, and users' purposes as indicators, using age, income, education level, marital status, and employment as control variables. Results: The gender digital divide is less evident in countries with high internet access, while it remains more pronounced in states where internet usage is limited, particularly among women. Even if there is a weak relationship between internet use and political participation, our findings indicate that targeted use (especially when centered on public concerns) can meaningfully boost political engagement. Implications: These results point to the importance of going beyond internet access alone. What also matters is how the internet is used and for what purpose. When digital tools are used to address public concerns or connect with broader communities, they become a means of influence, not only through communication, but also through political participation. In these cases, women are more likely to express their opinions, gain power, and take part in political change across the Arab world.