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  • Essay / The Power of the Internet and Women's Rights in Guatemala

    IntroductionWith the rapid growth of new digital media technologies, such as the Internet, the public has more choices and opportunities to communicate with people around the world entire. As Bill Gates proclaimed, “The Internet is becoming the public square of tomorrow’s global village.” The media can determine the considerable role it plays not only in our daily lives, but also its profound impact on modern society's cognitive perception of the world. The initial proposition of this article is to address how the Internet is transforming Guatemalan society and improving the rights of Guatemalan women, especially indigenous women in rural areas. The first hypothesis here is that the Internet is an essential tool for raising awareness of women's rights in Guatemala. The country's minorities, particularly indigenous women, are treated less equally or inferiorly by society. On the other hand, the liberation of Guatemalan women is an inseparable element of the liberation of society, which would promote the growth of the economy and a more active politics. In the context of women's liberation, women's education had a significant impact on the region. According to USAID, “more than two million children are out of school – most of them indigenous girls living in rural areas.” Ultimately, distributing more equal educational opportunities to women plays an important role in achieving social, political and economic equality in society. Thus, the second hypothesis, the most controversial, is that by using new emerging media and improving women's rights in Guatemala, this country would be able to increase its GDP and its number of inhabitants as well as participation more active politics, which could reform a democratic system in Guatemala. By undertaking an in-depth analysis, it...... middle of document ......2).The OECD Development Centre. “Gender Equality in Guatemala | Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI).” Social Institutions and Gender Index. http://genderindex.org/country/guatemala (accessed February 3, 2012). “It’s time for women to shape politics in Guatemala | UN Women”. UN Women | United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. http://www.unwomen.org/2011/09/time-for-women-to-shape-politics-in-guatemala/ (accessed February 2, 2012). “USAID/Guatemala: Our programs – Health and education. " United States Agency for International Development (USAID). http://www.usaid.gov/gt/health_education.htm (accessed February 6, 2012). “USAID Tells Our Story: Guatemala – Putting Women's Rights to the forefront the agenda. » United States Agency for International Development (USAID). http://www.usaid.gov/stories/guatemala/ss_gtm_court.html 5, 2012).