E-Government and Women’s Rights: Using Technology to Enhance Legal Empowerment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rhimrj.2026.v13n08.006Keywords:
E-government, women’s rights, legal empowerment, digital literacy, digital gender divide, e-Courts, Tele-Law, intersectionality, social capital, IndiaAbstract
India’s digital governance has expanded rapidly over the past few years, making online administrative services widely accessible and fundamentally altering how citizens interact with public institutions. Historically, accessing government services required visiting physical offices, submitting paper documents, and enduring long queues. Today, the landscape has transformed: the government has developed official websites, launched mobile applications, and established online portals for submitting complaints. Furthermore, specialized digital services such as electronic certificates, e-Courts, and Tele-Law have been introduced. This study employs a descriptive and analytical research design utilizing two primary types of materials: secondary data compiled by the government and a quantitative analysis framework designed for illustrative purposes. This framework incorporates data concerning 250 women to support the study's broader analytical process. In addition to this usage gap, cross-sectional statistical data reveals a strong correlation: individuals with higher digital literacy are more likely to experience legal empowerment. Specifically, they feel more supported in legal matters and more capable of protecting their own rights and interests. Drawing on these findings, this chapter argues that achieving digital legal empowerment for women extends far beyond merely providing access to technology, such as internet-enabled smartphones. Instead, it is a multifaceted social process that depends on comprehensive support.
References
[1] Carter, L., & Bélanger, F. (2005). The utilization of e-government services: Citizen trust, innovation and acceptance factors. Information Systems Journal, 15(1), 5–25. Coleman, J. S. (1988). Social capital in the creation of human capital. American Journal of Sociology, 94, S95–S120.
[2] Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139–167.
[3] Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating inequality: How high-tech tools profile, police, and punish the poor. St. Martin’s Press.
[4] Heeks, R. (2002). Information systems and developing countries: Failure, success, and local improvisations. The Information Society, 18(2), 101–112.
[5] Heeks, R., & Bailur, S. (2007). Analyzing e-government research: Perspectives, philosophies, theories, methods, and practice. Government Information Quarterly, 24(2), 243–265. Hilbert, M. (2011). Digital gender divide or technologically empowered women in developing
[6] countries? Women’s Studies International Forum, 34(6), 479–489. Kabeer, N. (1999). Resources, agency, achievements: Reflections on the measurement of women’s empowerment. Development and Change, 30(3), 435–464. Nussbaum, M. C. (2000). Women and human development: The capabilities approach. Cambridge University Press.
[7] Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling alone: The collapse and revival of American community. Simon & Schuster.
[8] West, D. M. (2004). E-government and the transformation of service delivery and citizen attitudes. Public Administration Review, 64(1), 15–27.
[9] Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India. (2011). Census of India 2011: Table C-08, Educational level by age and sex for population age 7 and above.
[10] Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. (2019). NSS 75th Round: Key Indicators of Household Social Consumption on Education in India.
[11] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (2024). United Nations E-Government Survey 2024: Accelerating digital transformation for sustainable development. United Nations.
[12] UN Women. (2024). Power on: How we can supercharge an equitable digital future. UN Women.
[13] Department of Justice, Government of India. (2025–2026). Parliamentary replies and programme information concerning Tele-Law, e-Courts and access to justice.
