Broadband access reduces time poverty for American women
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Researchers in the United States examined 14 years of data and found that women in communities with greater broadband internet access spend less time waiting for services.
They discovered a 10% increase in broadband adoption within a community correlates with a 1.19% reduction in waiting time for all residents.
This reduction in wait times stems from increased online services offered by businesses, healthcare providers, and government agencies, which allows people to complete tasks from home and shortens lines for those who still visit in person. Women benefit especially from expanded broadband. A 10% increase in broadband adoption is linked to an 11% decline in waiting time for women, saving approximately 14.4 million hours annually.
This is important because women often shoulder more caregiving and household responsibilities, leaving them with 20% less leisure time than men. However, the study also showed that increased broadband access does not equally benefit everyone. While middle-income people experience significant time savings with increased broadband, low-income individuals continue to face long wait times, potentially due to factors like subscription costs or lack of digital skills.
Researchers suggest that pairing broadband expansion with digital literacy programs and affordability initiatives could help ensure all women benefit from digitalization and reclaim valuable time.
