Jurnal The Messenger, Vol. 15, No. 1 (2023), pp. 52-67
P-ISSN: 2086-1559, E-ISSN: 2527-2810
DOI: 10.26623/themessenger.v15i1.4473

◼ 52

Blurring the Relationship Boundaries between Women
and Technology
Dhyah Ayu Retno Widyastuti1, Hermin Indah Wahyuni2, Sri Peni Wastutiningsih3
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-9939-2141, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Special Region
of Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
2
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7477-6125, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Special Region of
Yogyakarta 55284, Indonesia
3
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1736-7522, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Special Region of
Yogyakarta 55284, Indonesia
*Corresponding author, e-mail: dhyah.ayu@uajy.ac.id

1

Abstract
Introduction: Technology penetrates society and has an impact on daily life. Historically,
technology was dominated by men. Recently, women have become closer to the internet to
share ideas through cyberspace, build sites that allow them to interact with women and women’s
communities, and use the internet to help their productive activities. This study attempts to
explain modern society’s connections between women and technology. The data analysis used
cyberfeminism theory.
Methods: This study used qualitative methods and illustrated the case study of SiBakul
platform usage by MSMEs in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. SiBakul is an ICT-based
platform for branding the digital ecosystem of MSMEs in DIY Province. The data collection
employed in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. Data sources include MSME
actors and the government responsible for the MSME sector.
Findings: The results showed that SiBakul is the driving force behind digital platforms that
support MSMEs' activities. Through the marketplace, the MSME actors, both women and men,
use technology. The analysis concludes that there is a possible equality between women and
men in accessing and using technology to promote and market their business products. The
women develop their insight into cyberspace to increase their knowledge and be more
productive economically.
Originality: The study uses the cyberfeminism perspective to highlight the importance of
adapting to environmental changes in the Industry 4.0 era with women's equality for broader
access to technology. Besides, it is considered for women’s equality in public areas and the
productive sector, such as in MSME activities.
Keywords: Cyberfeminism, Equality, MSMEs, Women, Technology.

Introduction
One of the seventeen sustainable development goals (SDGs) agendas is gender
equality. Recently, during the Industry 4.0 era, information and communication
technology has been closely involved in the development process. Businesses engaged
in the economic sector are driven by technological innovation (Reyes & Neergaard,
2023), and technology positively affects economic development (Mosey et al., 2016).
Technological advancements have changed how individuals think, act, communicate,
and work in various fields (Ajja et al., 2019).
On the other hand, the development of ICT presents a challenge for its users.
From a gender perspective, disparities in technology users between women and men
still occur (Widyastuti, 2016). Women face significant obstacles to obtaining, utilizing,
and owning technology (Ajja et al., 2019). Women establish technology-based
Article History: Received December 15, 2021; Revised May 16, 2023; Accepted December 02, 2024;
Published December 17, 2024

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businesses at a much lower rate than men (Cansiz, Mehmet, Teknici, 2018). Women
still participate less in technology activities than males (Ascher, 2012). The fact showed
that more women and men depend on small business activity for all or part of their
livelihoods (Baines & Wheelock, 2000). Globally, women are increasingly joining the
ranks of entrepreneurs (Baral et al., 2023). Access to information and communication
technology evenly requires further elaboration. Technology has become increasingly
influential in driving people’s lives, especially when the Covid-19 pandemic hit almost
the entire world.
The end of 2019 has its history for the community. The coronavirus disease, also
known as Covid-19, requires that most activities be carried out at home. There are many
activities that internet network facilities then divert, such as education, social life,
mental health (Chaturvedi et al., 2021), and economic activities (Rassanjani et al.,
2021). Individuals use the internet to build networks and become part of online
communities. Online media, including new and social media, are becoming practical
platforms for the ‘global village.’ Marshall McLuhan defines a global village as a
simultaneous space that is not limited by space and time, the ‘global village’ metaphor
as a space of simultaneous and instantaneous happenings where ‘time has ceased, and
space has vanished. Overgrowing equipment, namely mobile phones connected to the
internet network, seems to break the long communication cycle. Within seconds, one
another can share text, images, and even audio-visuals. The information and
communication technology revolution allows everyone to share and disseminate
information anytime (Lestari & Sunarto, 2018). This facility can be presented quickly,
accessed anywhere, and is affordable. It seems that life cannot be separated from
smartphones or mobile devices (Barkhuus & Polichar, 2011).
This condition triggers the emergence of many obstacles experienced by some
women who handle Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). They are still
giddy and unprepared with the equipment for this activity change. Those with limited
abilities must be more familiar with technology and adequate facilities (Gani, 2021).
The number of internet users in Indonesia as of January 2020 was 175.4 million out of a
total population of 272.1 million. According to data from APJII, in 2017, 48.57 percent
of female internet users were female, and the rest were male users (Indonesia, 2017).
Likewise, data from the Central Statistics Agency in 2018 for women is still lower than
for men (Kusnandar, 2019). However, Instagram tends to be dominated by women, as
much as 50.8 percent (Pertiwi, 2019). The reality is that there are several additional jobs
assigned to women, such as replacing the duties of teachers at school for their kids,
doing their routine tasks, and tending to switch to internet-based media.
The Internet provides convenient services for the public in information and
communication. However, the internet is a digital platform that can create gender bias
against women, such as developing virtual public spaces for commodity facilities that
reflect women’s values, priorities, and aspirations. The increase in the internet for
online activities raises many concerns for women (Mariscal et al., 2019). For example,
the increasing demand for labor at home, the risk of being trapped in violence, and
increased online abuse and harassment. Even more extreme, this concern arises because
women have limited access to and lack equipment and knowledge of technology (Tu,
2020).
Especially now that the use of the internet for social media is growing, it has
many impacts on its users. WHO (2020) explains the many problems women
experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Violence against women is widespread.
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Globally, one in three women worldwide experiences physical or sexual violence by an
intimate partner. Violence against women tends to increase during emergencies,
including epidemics. Data in several countries, such as China, the UK, and the United
States, shows increased domestic violence cases since Covid-19, including Indonesia
(World Health Organization, 2020).
The impact of internet use is also mass and global. The world is witnessing the
effect of using new media and social media in various aspects of people’s lives, as we
know that social media has changed communication, interaction, connectivity, and
creativity (Deepak et al., 2020). Several types of social media are also dedicated to
input, interaction, and content sharing, including forums, microblogging, social
networking, social bookmarking, social curation, and others. All types of media with
this internet network are interactive, as they raise and discuss global issues.
For the capitalist industry, the internet trend is a commodity aimed at men’s
fantasies over women. As for feminism, there is a change that the internet is directed to
build a free space for women. According to Sadie Plant (1994 in Consalvo, 2002), the
internet is vital for women to claim their territory and use technology to explore societal
power and authority. As a learning space and an engagement with technology,
individuals and groups have created websites, discussion groups, and online learning
resources for women about internet technology.
Specifically, the study uses the case of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) phenomenon in the Special Region in Yogyakarta (DIY). The DIY is a
province that is proactive towards ICT changes. It is inseparable from the enthusiasm to
realize the vision of increasing the dignity of the people of Jogja.
In the MSME sector, DIY is one of the provinces the central government has
pushed through the Indonesia Together Movement (‘Gerakan Indonesia
Bersama’/GEBER UMKM). This movement encourages MSMEs for economic
recovery through the introduction of local products. In addition, DIY is one of the
targets of the Indonesian government’s strategic program to transform micro-enterprises
from informal to formal through Garda Transfumi. The MSME sector is the central
economic pillar, accounting for 98.36% of the total economic enterprises in DIY
(Regional Development Planning Agency, 2020). On the one hand, identified by
gender, the MSME sector in DIY is dominated by women, reaching 60% of the total
business actors. Building women’s power and authority through ICT becomes simple
throughout this sector.
The digital transformation of MSMEs in DIY continues to campaign in line with
the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Some digital media developed include SiBakul,
Jogjaplaza, Dodolan, and Nglarisi (Prasetyo, 2020). This study describes the use of the
SiBakul platform by MSMEs in DIY. SiBakul is a pioneering MSME development
managed by the Provincial Office of Cooperatives and SME of DIY. The DIY Industry
and Trade Office manages Jogjaplaza, while the Yogyakarta City Government develops
Dodolan and Nglarisi. SiBakul was chosen in this study because it is relevant to
developing the MSME sector in DIY to become the initiator of creating a marketing
platform for lower government.
This study describes the relationship between women and technology in modern
society. (a) Describe the technology platform for MSMEs in the form of SiBakul
Market-Hub; (b) Identify women’s adaptability in cyberspace through the use of the
SiBakul platform. (b) Analyse opportunities for women and men to access technology
(SiBakul platform) using the concept of cyberfeminism theory.
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The cyberfeminist concept is relevant to the analysis of this research.
Cyberfeminism is one of feminism and socialist, ecofeminism, liberal, and other
feminist schools. In 1994, Sadie Plant, the Cybernetic Culture Research Unit director at
the University of Warwick, UK, coined cyberfeminism. This genre emerged to
accommodate the work of feminists interested in theorizing, critiquing, and exploring
the internet, cyberspace, technology, and new media in general (Verma et al., 2018).
VNS Matrix is an Australian-based group of media artists, including those first to use
'cyberfeminism' in the early 1990s (Hawthorne and Klein, 1999). The philosophy built
into cyberfeminism is that first, there is a power difference between women and men,
especially in digital, and second, cyber feminists want to change an unequal situation.
Cyberfeminism tends to highlight the capacity of cyberspace to produce a more
egalitarian and accessible society (Smitley, 2004a). Based on the thoughts of Sadie
Plant, cyberfeminism emphasizes the central role of gender in social relations and the
consequences of women's oppression. Plant (1997) further defines cyberfeminism as a
rebellion against a patriarchal domination culture and demands a change in relations
between women and women. Cyberfeminism is an insurrection on the part of the goods
and materials of the patriarchal world, a dispersed, distributed emergence composed of
links between women, women and computers, and communication and connectionist
links (Royal, 2008). Meanwhile, Verma et al. (2018) define cyberfeminism as an online
feminist who uses social media to connect with other feminist organizations. Social
media helps feminists to be more visible and heard than in conventional media because
the viral nature of social media provides more connectivity in less time, and its
interactivity and network reach is also global.
This theory emphasizes cyberspace's transformative power, enabling women to
transcend gender, class, ethnicity, sexuality, and other identities to produce a more
egalitarian reality in virtual public spaces (Consalvo, 2002; Smitley, 2004b).
Cyberfeminism emphasizes the potential of digital culture to act as the foundation for an
egalitarian global democracy. Feminists recognize that the internet is vital and a means
for capital gains regarding the oppression of women worldwide. This school provides a
new approach to gender and technology and contributes to challenging masculinity with
technology. The domination of men over women shows patriarchal power evolving
from the real world to the virtual world, and cyberfeminism is a partial solution to
women's oppression.
Cyberspace provides a new space where gender relations can be rebuilt, and
feminists must take advantage of online media. Feminist intervention in cyberspace is
not limited to academic theory. Feminist politics has a crucial role in shaping
cyberculture. Katie Ward (2000, in Bell et al., 2004) divides cyberculture practices into
two categories. (a) Online feminism uses cyberspace to expand the feminist agenda by
raising awareness of gender equality and justice ideas. (b) Cyberfeminism online refers
to more expressive engagement in cyberspace by calling themselves 'geekgrrrls',
'nerdgrrrls', replicunts', and so on, who claim cyberspace as a space for women to
realize their goals.
There are two other discursive views developed by M. Smitley (2004) regarding
cyberfeminism, namely (a) An optimistic view, which is a virtual reality as a remedy for
the loss of social capital; (b) A pessimistic view, the lack of enthusiasm for accepting
technological innovations. Women use social media sites and resources to connect to
the outside world and gain more knowledge, improve their social status, organize social
causes, and deal with the injustices they feel. Women use social media to build capacity
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and independence through productive activities, as illustrated in a study on MSMEs in
DIY. Cyberfeminism believes that women can be empowered by using better
knowledge of new media technologies and creating more opportunities to improve their
work (Consalvo, 2002).
The evolution of the relationship between women and technology is more
dynamic than before. Research into the connection between ICT, gender, and
entrepreneurship, including women's empowerment, has been broad and evolving
(Bourne & Calás, 2013; Esquivel, 2016). Nevertheless, previous studies tend to focus
on the role of ICT in society, which has a significant role in the MSMEs sector (Barykin
et al., 2020; Dini et al., 2011). ICTs are changing people's lives (Walsham, 2012) and
are important for a better world (Qureshi, 2015). In addition, ICT bridges community
interactions in businesses, such as interactions with customers, services, and product
transactions (Braojos et al., 2019; Hajli, 2014). Society seems to depend on the ICT
(Carillo et al., 2017). MSMEs, including women entrepreneurs, need ICT to develop
their businesses (Nambisan et al., 2019; Pelletier & Cloutier, 2019; Wu & Parkvithee,
2017; Stephens et al., 2021).
For novelty, the authors make the following literary contributions: (1) This study
offers a thorough explanation using cyberfeminism to explore the relations of women
and technology from an MSME study area. Cyberfeminism is the framework that helps
comprehend how gender is a fundamental factor affecting MSMEs' ICT-based
activities. (2) The case study used the Special Region of Yogyakarta, a province with a
digital platform with a driving force for lower-level regions. The platform could
represent women's initiatives to develop in public areas using ICT, especially for the
MSMEs sector.
Methods
This research was conducted with a qualitative approach. Qualitative research
tries to understand or interpret phenomena or meanings brought by individuals,
involving various empirical materials such as case studies, interviews, observations,
history, and interactional and visual texts describing moments, meanings, and problems
in an individual's life (Creswell & Poth, 2018). This study aims to describe conditions
or events related to the research phenomenon systematically and accurately. Qualitative
researchers contribute to specific disciplinary knowledge, especially in the social
sciences (Hammersley, 2008). The case study method explores phenomena in this study
regarding how and why (Yin, 2018) the relationship between women and technology in
modern society. The unit analysis in the study is as follows: (a) The description of
SiBakul, a digital marketing platform. (b) Identification of the use of the SiBakul
platform by women entrepreneurs. (c) Identification of the relationship between women
and technology using the concept of cyberfeminism.
The study was conducted in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY/ Daerah
Istimewa Yogyakarta) because it was considered strategic as one of the provinces
targeted for ICT development, especially being proactive in digital transformation for
MSMEs. The case study is taking the SiBakul Market Hub. SiBakul was chosen
because it became the platform that initiated the development of marketing platforms at
the district level in DIY Province. SiBakul is a digital platform that manifests how to
achieve MSME development goals in DIY, namely realizing a vision to answer global
challenges, anticipating rapid environmental developments and changes, and
increasingly fierce competition. This goal underpins the government's support for
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building MSMEs with capabilities aligned with information and communication
technology development. MSMEs going digital is one of the strategic priorities for
developing the cooperative sector and MSMEs in DIY.
Moreover, efforts to recover the economy from the impact of the Covid-19
pandemic have been encouraged by the government to oversee the creation of digitalbased MSMEs so that they can rise and be competitive. The data obtained are mainly
from interviews, observation, and documentation. Data analysis was carried out in
stages: data collection, reduction, research, and conclusion (Milles et al., 1992). In the
initial stage, interviews were conducted with MSMEs and government actors.
Furthermore, the researchers mapped relevant data to see the relationship between
female MSME actors and the use of technology. Moreover, an analysis was carried out
in which researchers identified conditions in MSMEs and analyzed them using the basic
framework of cyberfeminism theory. Finally, the relevant conclusions are drawn.
Results
Cyberfeminism uses new media and social media as the main tools that help gain
control over their lives. It cannot be ignored that cyberfeminism is part of women's
empowerment. Technology has the power to unleash men's domination of women, and
it can help achieve gender equality, independence, and empowerment for women
(Mohanty & Samantaray, 2017). The illustration of using the SiBakul platform shows
women's ability to make strategic life choices. The online communication built by
women is based on goals, objectives, ideologies, and interests. This website is a
practical platform for the global village. Women can communicate one-on-one, one-tomany, many-many, and even do mass communication to build their business network
through the internet. It helps facilitate mobilization, increasing geographic reach in the
self-sufficiency movement, and providing a friendly platform for MSME actors to plan
and implement their business goals.
DIY is the province with the smallest area after the Special Capital Region of
Jakarta (DKI). However, DIY has various potential resources that can be developed for
regional development. MSMEs are one of the sectors that are the mainstay for
sustainable development. The MSME sector contributed to DIY's economic growth,
reaching 79.6 percent of the Gross Regional Domestic Product or GRDP (Hardi, 2020).
DIY economy performance is also seen from the size of the GRDP, and in 2020, it
was recorded at 138.39 trillion rupiah. This GRDP is generated from various business
fields, including processing, agriculture, communication industries, construction,
wholesale and retail trade, provision of accommodation, food and drink, government
administration, education services, and information and other business fields. These
various employment categories must be distinct from the business that develops in the
MSME sector.
In terms of quantity, the number of MSMEs continues to increase. Data from the
DIY Cooperatives and SMEs Service shows that the number of MSMEs continues to
grow every year, as shown in Table 1; in 2020, the total number of MSMEs was
287,682; in 2019, there were 262,130 units; in 2018, there were 259,581. Furthermore,
in 2017, there were 248,217 units. Based on the data, micro-scale businesses dominate
the number of MSMEs in DIY. The data of DIY government (2020) is classified by type
of business, including various businesses, trade, agricultural industry, and nonagricultural industry.

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Table 1. Data of MSMEs in DIY
Scale of MSMEs
Year
Amount
Micro
Small
Medium
Big
2017
135.799
62.042
37.472
12.904
248.217
2018
141.991
64.896
39.196
13.498
259.581
2019
143.385
65.533
39.581
13.631
262.130
2020
188.033
58.980
30.664
10.005
287.682
Note: The table describes the data number of MSMEs in The DIY
In 2020, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, DIY’s economic growth
tended to decline, influenced by the decreasing value in most business fields, especially
those based on mobility and tourism. The Covid-19 pandemic contributed significantly
to a decline in the DIY economy. As one of the efforts to restore the economic
conditions in DIY, the Department of Cooperatives and SMEs developed an
Information System for the Guidance of Cooperatives and Business Actors of the
Special Regional Government known as SiBakul.

Figure 1: SiBakul-Digital Platform (source: Sibakuljogja.jogjaprov.go.id, 2021)
SiBakul is an information window for developing cooperatives and micro, small,
and medium enterprises in the DIY province. The slogan is "ngayomi segaligus
ngurubi, ngayemi sekaligus nguripi." This platform is a tool used by the DIY
Cooperatives and SME Office to direct the development of cooperatives and SMEs to a
future business model that is fast, accurate, and accountable. SiBakul Jogja is a data
center for cooperatives and SMEs of the DIY local government. All activities are
integrated to maintain solidity, update, accuracy, and data integrity that are precise,
effective, and impactful.
SiBakul was initiated in 2017 as a service program to increase the capacity of both
independent and MSMEs as members of cooperatives. As the Covid-19 pandemic
challenged the implementation of Sibakul, some innovations and developments in line
with these conditions are needed. The government is responding to some new problems
for MSMEs and also considers that efforts are required to recover the economy by
suppressing the spread of the pandemic. This government step is regulated in the Decree
of the Governor (SK) of DIY Number 519/7669 regarding the call to purchase MSME
products. Digital system innovation for MSMEs was developed with SiBakul Jogja free
shipping costs (SiBakul Jogja free ongkir). The aim is that MSME products can still get
buyers even though people do not do conventional transactions.
SiBakul program makes MSMEs clustering for its development, including
institutional, production, financial, marketing, and digital marketing aspects, and is
realized in an internet-based application. The role of the government through the
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Cooperatives and SMEs Service, in this case, is to be the curator of MSMEs products
and to bridge MSMEs through ordering online motorcycle taxis. Due to its online
nature, the demand is to provide excellent service seven days a week. Human resource
management is also prepared according to this need.
The innovation of the SiBakul free shipping program has specific objectives,
which include (1) providing marketing stimulants to MSMEs affected by Covid-19 to
consumers through online media (whether in the form of a marketplace, business WA,
or other media content). (2) helping MSMEs to carry out business management and
training in digital economic transactions. (3) providing support to online motorcycle
taxis, which have experienced a decline in business turnover since the COVID-19
pandemic. (4) increasing people's purchasing power without violating social distancing
policies. (5) supporting the regional economy in welcoming the new normal era to
recover.

Figure 2. SiBakul Program Offline Activities (source: Author’s Documentation, 2021)
The SiBakul program continues to be carried out with various innovations to
adapt to new habits and post-pandemic recovery. The innovation carried out was a
Sibakul product event held both online and offline by implementing health protocols.
The offline events allow MSMEs to meet and inspire each other (see Figure 2). In
addition, it can also develop the creativity of MSMEs to survive. DIY SMEs can access
and use SiBakul openly. When identified by gender, the number of female workers in
the MSME sector tends to dominate compared to men.

Figure 3. MSMEs Members in DIY (source: Analysis Secondary Data, 2021)
Based on Figure 3, the number of female workers in the MSMEs sector is higher
than that of men, which always increases yearly. The challenge is that when women's
access to technology is still limited, efforts must be made to improve it. The growth of

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digital transformation in the MSMEs sector provides opportunities for women to have
complete access to technology.
A case study using the SiBakul platform shows how women could access
technology to market their businesses. The data show that in 2021, the number of
female workers is as much as 57%, and the number of male workers is 43%.
Meanwhile, when viewed from the aspect of using technology in the SiBakul case
study, the percentage of women users is 49% and men 50.8%, so the quantity is still
unequal. However, we can see that women's access to technology is only 1.8 percent
different from men's. The details are presented in Table 2.
Table 2. User of SiBakul
No.
Gender Bantul Gunung Kulon Sleman Yogyakarta Quantity
%
Kidul
Progo
1
Female 40.496 24.347
16.131 42.115
16.631
148.436
49
2
Male
36.745 29.494
19.768 42.779
15.775
154.096 50,8
3
No
91
18
19
100
40
269
0,2
mentions
Total
302.801 100
Note: The table describes data users of SiBakul
Discussion
ICT is essential for everyday life (Qazi et al., 2022; Sun et al., 2020). ICT has
enabled people to connect and communicate globally (Mackey & Petrucka, 2021). The
growth of Internet use nowadays has become more heterogeneous in terms of
geography, age, gender, class, and ethnicity compared to the beginning of its
development in the mid-1990 (Paasonen, 2011). Technology, which tends to be specific
to academics and programmers in affluent countries, is shifting to the technology used
by more than 50% of the human population (Freuler, 2022). For MSMEs, technological
innovation is essential. Innovation uses new technologies to improve efficiency and
effectiveness (Sołek-Borowska, 2018). This mobile application and an internet network
are crucial in developing several countries. The initial picture is in Europe, North
America, East Asia, and Australia, where the internet is a medium for communication
and information, and both contribute to classifying the ranks of users and encouraging a
separate movement in cyberspace. The transformation of internet use is evidence of the
equivalence between technology and the economy.
Based on the feminist paradigm, the development of the internet is seen in
women's relations and technology. According to history, technology is dominated by
men. Men are more proficient in technology than women (Goswami & Dutta, 2016).
Despite women's increasing use of the internet, patriarchy is never absent. Men control
the content and make benefits. They surf from site to site, while women only seek
specific topics (Richard & Schall, 2006).
Sandra Harding (1993), as one of the initiators of feminist standpoint theory,
emphasizes that research on women's lives will produce deviations not only from
women's lives but also from men's lives and the entire social order. Feminist Standpoint
Theory is a feminist epistemology and methodology for feminist researchers in the
social sciences. It is arguably the theory with the feminist point of view that has had the
most influence and is the subject of most of the debate (Alcoff and Potter, 1993).
The results of feminist research underpin the marginalization and exclusion of
women in techno-scientific culture (the relationship between gender, science, and
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technology). In addition, feminists analyze the impact of computers and the internet on
women's lives, including positive and negative effects (Pujol & Montenegro, 2015),
until cyberspace is seen as a patriarchal domain and domination that is structured to
exclude women's participation. Cyberfeminism is closely related to cyborgs and cyber
organisms (Bell et al., 2004).
One of Sadie Plant's dominant arguments is that technology is a masculine culture
involving men's interests rather than women's. Technology is a masculine creation (Lie,
1995). To illustrate, although women have been involved in creating and developing
computers, their contributions have remained marginal, and their participation needs to
be addressed throughout history. Nevertheless, feminists such as Judy Wacjman,
professor of sociology at the Australian National University in Canberra, and Cynthia
Cockburn, an independent student and activist in London, argue that technology
requires continued interrogation and reconceptualization and women need to be more
active in technology to be better off (Consalvo, 2002). It is where cyberfeminism
departs.
SiBakul is part of the expression of women entrepreneurs in DIY who want to
develop and be independent through their productive efforts. According to Pollock and
Sutton (1999), the women’s community emphasizes 'communication technology' more
than 'information technology’. Their process on the SiBakul platform is centered on
communicating and building networks to introduce and sell their products.
Several facilities can be used on the SiBakul platform page, such as the free
shipping market hub, which promotes MSME products, the Kotagede YIA market
gallery, LADAKU (MSMEs data service), and others. The promoted MSME product
categories include ready-to-eat food and fresh drinks, packaged and frozen food, dessert
cakes and snacks, health and beauty herbs, and other product variants.
Women in cyberspace are placed more as participants, subjects who move the
economic sector for their lives. Women entrepreneurs with various backgrounds in DIY
as users of the SiBakul platform get the opportunity to present products and develop
strategies to package their products via online marketing. Through interaction in this
virtual world, they openly had the chance to market their products and distribute them
free of charge through the free shipping market hub program.
For feminists, the internet and communication technologies have brought about a
change in the way they work. ICTs enhance opportunities for underprivileged
populations, government, and service delivery (Dar & Shairgojri, 2022). The reality of
using the SiBakul platform can illustrate the spirit of women related to technology and
how business actors, both women and men, use technology, promote products, and
make transactions. Based on the SiBakul platform observation, free shipping market
hub services are increasingly in demand by MSME players. In addition to displaying the
products offered, they can track the product delivery process when a transaction occurs
by entering an invoice number. It even encourages MSMEs to establish offline
interactions and share business development information.
The virtual space on the SiBakul platform, with 49% female users, reflects that the
internet is feminine. This context illustrates that there has been a change by eliminating
boundaries between public and private spaces. Welcoming the spirit of Sadie Plant et
al., (1997) the internet now become more of a medium for women. SiBakul is a
platform where women and men can access technology equally. The participation of
women and men as actors, subjects of presentation content, information production, and
gender roles emphasize social relations in cyberspace.
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Based on interview data from the DIY Cooperatives and SMEs Office sources
(2021), SiBakul is part of a digital transformation where cultural aspects and gender
differences are not obstacles to its implementation. Both women and men have equal
access. The evaluation results of the training also showed the spirit of women in using
the SiBakul platform as a medium to offer their products.
The spirit of cyberfeminism ensures that blurring the relationship between women
and technology is one way to achieve gender equality. Transition is present in people's
lives with new technology, both in the speed of information transfer, sharing
information on a large scale, and providing close relations between groups of women
online.
Conditions have changed when compared to the 1990s. Although a tiny part of the
female population is still excluded, now the internet allows women to work as feminists
aspire. However, sometimes, some difficulties arise in achieving inclusive relationships.
As in the case study of SiBakul users, the tendency of the diversity of women's abilities
and also age factors affect the accessibility of women to technology. This data means
that transparency of information and the distribution of open accessibility between
women and men are the keys that can encourage action and change in the future.
Cyberspace enables people to transcend the boundaries of the environment in
which they live to exchange information and experiences with members of the MSME
community. At the same time, freedom in this digital space footprint allows global
resources to reach local communities. Moreover, membership in the SiBakul platform
reaches the entire DIY community and global market reach. This means that
information of an enormous scope will also bring significant changes. Women
entrepreneurs of MSMEs must be prepared to face the global-local range areas in their
daily lives. While the Internet can help communication across continents and countries,
some barriers for women will arise related to language acquisition (Pollock and Sutton,
1999).
Another more significant challenge is the existence of equal access for women
entrepreneurs. Feminism advocates for gender equality, individual freedom, and
women's empowerment. It is an existential fight to declare one's uniqueness (Mohanty
& Samantaray, 2017). For women who live in strategic locations, most can access
infrastructure with internet services, and some rely on smart devices for now. Women
entrepreneurs provide society with many solutions to organizational and business issues
and creatively utilize entrepreneurial prospects (Roy, Sujit, 2014). The focus then is on
women entrepreneurs who need to be covered by digital facilities, have limited
conditions, have low incomes, and cannot bring this sophisticated infrastructure into
their environment. The consequence that arises is the challenge of feminists to continue
to synergize with various parties, especially the government. The conditions
increasingly developing by relying on technology to support communication and
relationships with other people will undoubtedly shape digital culture in the future. In
addition, in line with the SDGs agenda, technology is essential to advancing gender
equality.
This research focuses on describing the relationship between women and
technology within the framework of cyberfeminism. The specified case study is the
SiBakul Market-Hub platform because researchers limit the survey’s focus to platforms
that are identical and directly related to the MSME sector. On the one hand, the DIY
Province has a variety of ICT-based platforms. It can be strengthened by adding case
studies in other sectors, such as industrial and trade platforms and marketplace
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platforms in lower-level regions. In addition, this study was conducted during the
Covid-19 pandemic, when this condition became a catalyst for development in all ICTbased aspects. Further studies are needed to enrich data related to this theme about postpandemic conditions with new habits.
Conclusion
A study of cyberfeminism can present a new understanding of the relationship
between women and technology. According to cyberfeminism, technological
sophistication will blur the boundaries between humans and machines, eventually
making the categories between women and obsolete men. Women become free from
power structures when technology advances and people's access to information
technology gets wider. Technology now gives women the power to express their ideas,
develop creativity, create new businesses, and complete their lives rationally and
revolutionary. The depiction of business actors using the SiBakul platform in DIY is
evidence of the openness of the flow of technology, the internet, and women. It reflects
how women get out of the boundaries that create barriers and categorize identities for
women. Various challenges will arise in the long term and require constant struggles
and commitments within the feminist movement. In short-term situations, that must
continue to be carried out, among others, monitoring uploaded content to establish
online interactions, promote their products, and even develop their MSME level. These
steps will impact the effectiveness of its use both for campaigning and as a vehicle for
realizing gender equality between women and men. This research contributes to efforts
to build gender equality in access to ICT between women and men as aspired to in the
SDGs. In future studies, the scope of the case study can be expanded as a development
study on the same theme. In addition, the research design allows it to be packaged in
comparative studies between cases to look comprehensive. The uniqueness of the results
of this study can be a baseline for developing relevant studies in the future.
Conflict of Interest
We certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial, personal, or other
relationships with other people or organizations related to the material discussed in the
manuscript.
Acknowledgements
Appreciation is extended to all co-authors, research collaborators and the SiBakul
for their valuable contributions and constructive discussions that enriched the quality of
this study.
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