University of Twente Student Theses
Disability and the Digital Divide: An Analysis on the European Union´s Discourse
Roosen, Pia (2023) Disability and the Digital Divide: An Analysis on the European Union´s Discourse.
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| Abstract: | This paper analyzes in what way the European Union represents persons with disabilities in its discourse on the digital divide. This issue is important as 15% of all citizens of the EU live with some form of disability and many of them face external barriers and exclusion, for example in the accessibility of digital technologies. The EU has promised to fight against the inequality of information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility that persons with disability face, called the digital divide. With the help of a critical discourse analysis, policy documents of the EU are analyzed to see how the Union represents persons with disabilities in its discourse on the digital divide and if it holds up to its promises in fighting exclusion. The key insight of this paper is that the EUs discourse reflects the sociopolitical model, which sees disability as a social construct based on external barriers. Digital technologies are thereby perceived as a tool that can foster the participation of persons with disabilities, while at the same time, the digital divide is seen as a threat to equality. It becomes apparent that the EU presents itself as more inclusive than it is, as economic concerns are regarded as more important than inclusion. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 70 social sciences in general |
| Programme: | Management Society and Technology BSc (56654) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/95890 |
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