Rising Number of Indian Women Use Internet

[Guest guest]

KOLKATA (March 3, 2006) — Indian women seem to be doing their bit to

dispel the myth that technology is a male domain.

 

A recent survey conducted by Internet and Mobile Association of

India on 6365 respondents across 21 states and 277 cities indicates

an increase in the number of women surfing the Internet for personal

or work-related purposes.

 

The number has risen from 28 per cent in 2004-2005 to 32 per cent

(12.32 million) in 2005-2006.

 

The survey was conducted with the purpose of ascertaining gender

parity online. It can also help marketers streamline their approach

and reduce the risk factor while pushing products online. Those

already familiar with the report will notice that interactive

communication is what women want.

 

The survey, done on an age group ranging from 18 to 61 years, took

into consideration various activities undertaken by women. Under the

personal category, it is known that 96 per cent use the Internet for

correspondence (e-mail), 63 per cent surf the net for personal

research and only 44 per cent indicated that they chatted.

 

And though women score higher than men in surfing the net for

matrimonial purposes, astrology, jobs and religious and spiritual

and religious information, there are other areas that are

traditionally dominated by male consumers.

 

The report suggests that women are cautions online spenders except

when it comes to charitable purposes. Compared to men who like to

indulge in online shopping (27 per cent), only 24 per cent women

prefer to do the same. But the biggest disparity yet is visible when

it comes to online banking — men are at 35 per cent when compared to

women at 24 per cent. As for charity, both figures stand at 4 per

cent each.

 

Ms Preeti Desai, president of the Internet and Mobile Association of

India, said: "India is among the fastest growing Internet

populations in the world. Since 2004-05, the percentage of online

users in India has increased by 54 per cent (38.5 million users).

 

"Male online users increased in absolute numbers but dipped from 72

per cent in 2004-05 to 68 per cent 2005-06. The estimate for the

male-female ratio in the next 2 years is that it will be closer to

60:40 but it will still result in the absolute numbers of men being

higher then women.

 

"Our report is for free and it offers a fairly detailed view of what

the future has in store if companies want to target women." The

research was undertaken by the IAMAI in collaboration with Crosstab

Marketing Services.

 

TO REQUEST FREE COPY OF REPORT:

http://www.iamai.in/r6_home.php3

 

SOURCE: The Statesman, Kolkata. "More women fall in Net," by

Sangeetha Nair in Kolkata.

URL: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?

clid=22&theme=&usrsess=1&id=108629