Posted: September 7th, 2022

Race and Social Economic Inequalities in the Digital Divide

Race and Social Economic Inequalities in the Digital Divide
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Race and Social Economic Inequalities in the Digital Divide
This paper aims to first evaluate the report by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) on “Defining The Digital Age”. Secondly, I will argue that historical and existing cultural, social, political, and economic systems of power and privilege contribute more to the digital divide. Also, I will base the argument on the context of gender, race, class, and privilege.
Information technological tools such as computers, the internet, and mobile devices are essential not only for economic progress and success but also for personal development. Yet, according to a report by NTIA, a significant number of Americans don’t have access to these tools, indicating a substantial divide between the haves and the have-nots. However, it is essential to note that there is a persistence in the divide between information-rich communities such as Whites, well educated, Asians and Pacific islanders, high-income households, and poor information communities such as young people, low-income households, and those from minority communities. This essay will inform the reader why we need to rethink the sociopolitics of the digital divide and the need to develop more progressive approaches to counter the digital divide.
II
The main argument in the report by NTIA is that there is a growing divide between those who can access information technology tools. The income disparity between households was used to explain the income existence of the digital divide and the expected access to the tools in the future. The report indicates a widening digital divide between those of higher and low-income levels. However, the report fails to consider other essential factors such as racial disparity, privilege and repression, and the sociopolitics of the divide. However, it is notable that even though all racial groups had access to computers more than they had in the previous years, Hispanics and African Americans trailed further behind whites in the level of online access and computer ownership. Notably, after more than fifteen years after the report was published, research indicates that about 20% of the children cannot finish their homework due to the divide (Anderson & Perrin, 2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online). It also indicates that lack of connectivity is more pronounced in Hispanic, black, and low-income households. Thus, it can be stated that race, social-economic inequalities are essential factors in the digital divide.
There is an apparent contrast between the low-income communities and the affluent in America. People from poor communities adapt to the information age far much behind the wealthy. The divide does not simply indicate a variation in the changes made by the two groups. Still, it shows deeper problems rooted in the cultural and social-economic disparities that influence community access to resources such as infrastructure. Besides, rural areas are further behind those in urban areas regarding access to information tools. While some people may focus on whether households can access the service, factors such as the absence of telecommunication facilities may make an area less attractive to business investments. The absence of investments in an area results in a spiral effect such as fewer economic opportunities for communities in the area. Consequently, it results in poverty in the area, further aggravating the problem.
Race and social-economic status of families are important factors contributing to the neighborhoods people live in. according to a study by (Fairlie, 2004) education, occupation and income are critical factors that contribute to one owning a computer. However, racial differences between Whites, African Americans, and Latino significantly contribute to the gaps in access and use of information technology. Besides, the variation between the racial groups is evidently considerable as the most commonplace for using the devices is at home. Furthermore, based on the earlier argument that race and economic status contribute to neighborhoods people occupy, poor zones lack infrastructure resulting in reduced access to information technology tools. Therefore, racial inequalities are equally significant in contributing to the digital divide.
III
The argument is rooted in the contributing factors to the digital divide. The argument is important as it lays out the other factors that significantly contribute to the digital divide. It is worth noting the economic status of households is contributed to by factors such as race and social factors. However, the economic status of a family is also a contributing factor to the digital divide. The reason for my stand is that the financial status of a household is not the only reason contributing to the digital divide. Other primary factors have a role in the digital divide, such as the race and location of low-income communities. However, based on these factors and their role concerning families’ social and economic status concerning access to technological information tools, the factors play an essential role and should therefore be accepted.
On the other hand, one may raise an objection regarding the strength of these factors concerning the digital divide. The objection is centered on the contribution of families towards the betterment of their economic stand. However, the financial disparity is only a secondary factor that directly affects the digital divide. On the contrary, racial and social-economic inequalities are the primary reasons for the disparities. As such, they are the factors that should be worked on to reduce the digital divide.

References
Anderson, M., & Perrin, A. (2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online, October 26). Nearly one-in-five teens can’t always finish their homework because of the digital divide. Retrieved May 07, 2021, from Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018: 2024 – Write My Essay For Me | Essay Writing Service For Your Papers Online/10/26/nearly-one-in-five-teens-cant-always-finish-their-homework-because-of-the-digital-divide/
Fairlie, R. W. (2004). Race and the Digital Divide. Retrieved from escholarship: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/48h8h99w#main

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