Early work experience in Information, Communication and Technology and the aspirations of adolescent girls in India

In India, longstanding structural and cultural barriers and pervasive gender inequality have curtailed access to work experience and future employment opportunities for adolescents girls. This paper argues that early exposure to information, communication and technology (ICT) and work experience is rapidly challenging societies and these barriers, changing family and household structures, and importantly creating opportunities to change aspirations and mindsets of adolescent girls, and their families.

This qualitative study was carried out in Tamil Nadu investigated attitudes and structural barriers faced by young females attending two engineering colleges. Questionnaires were completed by male (n=364) and female students (n=241), representing all social groups and castes. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted to explore the role of agency and structure in promoting and constraining the student's aspirations and ambitions.

This paper presents the girls’ perceptions of the difficulties and realities they face, giving unique insights to the barriers facing this cohort of the ICT era, and struggles between reality and optimism. Interestingly, these young women were more focused on studies, determined to succeed, and many had higher goals and aspirations than their male counterparts.