The Arab World, Culture and Information Technology

Examining the Moderating Role of Gender in Arabian Workers’ Acceptance of Computer Technology

“…The overall development of information technology in the Arabian region has been relatively slow [El Louadi, 2008]; for example, Internet connections were not established until 1997; Internet access by the general public was available only in 1999 [Al-Kahtani et al, 2005]; and Internet users accounted for only 5.41 percent of the population in 2003 [Al-Kahtani et al, 2005]. Recent statistics show that Internet penetration in the Arabian region has reached 23.9 percent of the population, whereas such penetration rates are 53.9 percent in the United States and 61.3 percent in Europe [Internet World Stats, 2012].…”

“…The incompatibility between this imported Western technology and the unique and deeply entrenched socio-cultural background of the area seems to have been a major barrier to technology dissemination [El Louadi, 2008]. To some extent, people might consider technology developed in Western countries (i.e., North American or European) culturally biased and socially invasive [Hill et al, 1998].…”

“…Women have historically been underrepresented in the work force [Al-Gahtani, Hubona, and Wang, 2007] and might be less likely to accept and use information technology than their male counterparts. Women account for nearly two-thirds of the population but only 4 percent of its Internet users [El Louadi, 2008]. In recent years, interest in technology among women also has grown continually, in contrast with the seemingly declining participation by women in Western countries [Khreisat, 2009].…”