This study set out to understand the landscape of digital inclusion policies related to immigrant women in the Nordic countries. Furthermore, the study set out to understand barriers hindering the digital inclusion of immigrant women (more specifically, those with low local language proficiency, low socioeconomic or educational background, newly arrived, and refugees) in the Nordic countries and identify practices for promoting their access and engagement in the digital society.
We learned that while not all immigrant women are at risk of digital exclusion, some immigrant women face a range of challenges that may hinder their digital inclusion. These challenges include language barriers, making it difficult to navigate digital public services and understand important information. Also, there are varying levels of digital skills, and these skills are essential for accessing vital services and fully participating in society. Issues of trust, both in the system and in their own abilities, further complicate their digital inclusion. Additionally, a lack of domain knowledge, such as understanding the Nordic welfare system, and cultural barriers such as varying previous use of technology, unfamiliarity with the digital landscape, and adapting to digital norms and practices, contributes to digital inclusion challenges.
These barriers are not unique for immigrant women. They can be seen among immigrants in general and other groups in society which have been identified as being at risk of digital exclusion, such as the elderly and people with disabilities (Jessen et al., 2024; Wendt-Lucas et al., 2024). What is notable for immigrant women is the multifaceted nature of the barriers they face. Immigrant women often encounter a combination of challenges and may also face systemic challenges such as discriminatory practices, family responsibilities, and limited access to childcare and education.
In today’s digitalised society, addressing digital inclusion as part of broader integration efforts is essential. The ‘common challenges and common solutions’ approach explored in the digital policy section emphasises the importance of addressing shared barriers across different vulnerable groups. This approach suggests that by identifying and targeting common challenges, such as language barriers, digital literacy gaps, and trust issues, policies and initiatives can be more inclusive and effective. What is more effective for combating digital exclusion – targeted policies or broader policies – is too early to determine.
While the Nordic states have implemented numerous policies and strategies to foster digital inclusion for all members in society, previous studies show that NGOs in these countries also play a role in meeting the specific needs of immigrant communities by providing tailored support and bridging gaps. The interviewed NGOs support the digital inclusion of immigrant women through targeted programmes and services, including digital literacy courses that range from basic skills to advanced IT training, often combined with local language education and understanding the welfare system. These courses are tailored to participants’ levels and needs, they are available in multiple languages, and sometimes they are supplemented with individual sessions. NGOs also offer complementary courses focusing on employment, education, and societal integration, providing a safe space for women to discuss personal and societal issues.
While this research has helped shed light on several dynamics of the digital inclusion of immigrant women in Nordic countries, several questions remain unanswered and would be relevant to investigate in future research avenues. It would be interesting to untangle the relationship between different policy approaches, such as common-challenges-common-solution or more targeted policies, and the digital exclusion for specific groups, e.g., immigrant women. It would also be relevant for future research to build upon this study and include more NGOs, as well as Icelandic NGOs, and to also include national integration policies in the policy analysis. For practitioners, it would be relevant to begin digital inclusion monitoring, to understand and track the development of digital accessibility barriers, digital capabilities barriers, situations where digital exclusion arises for specific groups, and the consequences of digital exclusion for specific groups. This would allow for better digital inclusion support for different groups, such as immigrant women.
This study highlights the critical role of digital inclusion in the integration of immigrant women in the Nordic countries. Digital innovations can both hinder and enable integration, making it a double-edged sword. On one hand, innovative digital tools and services can bridge the gap between immigrant women and the digital society, ensuring they have access to vital resources, education, and employment opportunities. On the other hand, the rapid digitalisation of society can exacerbate existing inequalities and create new barriers for those who lack digital skills or access to technology. The study emphasises the need for new, creative and effective strategies and initiatives to promote digital inclusion and integration in the Nordic region. By leveraging new and innovative approaches, such as user-friendly eIDs, tailored digital literacy courses, childcare and multilingual support, it is possible to address common barriers like language proficiency, digital skills gaps, and trust issues. These solutions empower immigrant women to navigate the digital landscape, fostering their social and economic integration and reducing the risk of social isolation.