Intersecting Barriers to Digital Inclusion: A Multilevel Analysis of Gender, Education, and Household Power Structures in Shaping Technology Access, with special reference to Malappuram and Kozhikode Districts

U. K. Palanichamy; Rashida Farsath

doi:10.36948/ijfmr.2026.DePaul-2026.1906

Intersecting Barriers to Digital Inclusion: A Multilevel Analysis of Gender, Education, and Household Power Structures in Shaping Technology Access, with special reference to Malappuram and Kozhikode Districts

Author(s)	Dr. U. K. Palanichamy, Rashida Farsath
Country	India
Abstract	This study examines intersecting barriers to digital inclusion through a multilevel analytical framework, with special reference to Malappuram District and Kozhikode District. It investigates how gender, educational attainment and intra-household power structures jointly shape access to digital devices, internet services and everyday digital resources. By integrating individual-level characteristics with household and community contexts, the study analyses how control over financial resources, decision-making authority and time allocation within households condition women’s opportunities to access and use digital technologies. A mixed-methods research design is adopted, combining household survey data with in-depth interviews to capture both structural constraints and lived experiences of digital exclusion. Multilevel modelling is employed to distinguish individual effects from household- and community-level influences, enabling a nuanced assessment of how social hierarchies and gendered power relations interact with educational advantages. The findings indicate that higher educational attainment alone does not ensure equitable access to technology when women’s autonomy over technology use and household decision-making remains constrained. The study contributes to the literature on digital inclusion by demonstrating that technology access is deeply embedded in everyday power structures and social norms, and by highlighting the need for place-specific, gender-responsive policy interventions that address both educational inequalities and household-level dynamics.
Keywords	Gender Digital Divide, Digital Inclusion, Household Power Structures, Technology Access, Multilevel Analysis
Published In	Conference / Special Issue (Volume 8 \| Issue 3) - Two-Day National Conference on “Women Led Development: Pathways to Inclusive, Sustainable, & Equitable Growth” (DePaul-2026) (May 2026)
Published On	2026-05-03
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.DePaul-2026.1906

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Intersecting Barriers to Digital Inclusion: A Multilevel Analysis of Gender, Education, and Household Power Structures in Shaping Technology Access, with special reference to Malappuram and Kozhikode Districts

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