Information Inequality and Impact of COVID-19 on Communities of Women of Color in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV area)

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the world to an undeniable truth: our global health system is as inadequate and fragile as the ability of some of the world leaders in crisis management. Everything we learn to prepare ourselves, our health, our lives depend on what we know about COVID-19. Information is the new currency and commodity in our digital society today. This thesis focuses on COVID-19 information case studies: the impact of information inequality on communities of women of color in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) area. Information is power, and the pursuit of power often resides in the protection of the interests of particular groups or individuals, which inevitably generates inequality in communities of social groups. Additionally, this thesis examines how the commodification of information and its unequal distribution has contributed to the alienation of the lives of communities of women of color in the U.S.Building on existing gender inequality in digital literacy, inequality of access, and knowledge of the use of technology to access information can play a crucial role in the lives of women of color women. Addressing information inequality is key to a multi-dimensional approach to improving such women’s lives by evaluating the structural inequality of technology, digital knowledge, gender, race, age, and many other factors.

Author

• Yang, Yu

Language

• en

Keyword

• information cost
• digital divide
• information inequality
• Covid-19
• digital literacy
• gender inequality

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Public Policy

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Benitez-Curry, Barbara

Committee Member(s)

• Kabra, Patricia
• Hindman, Matthew

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/3b5919377