BRIDGING THE GENDER DIGITAL DIVIDE: THE ROLE OF DIGITAL LITERACY IN WOMEN’S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT IN THE SOCIETY 5.0 ERA (A CASE STUDY OF MICRO-ENTREPRENEURS IN BALI, INDONESIA)

Abstract

The advent of Society 5.0 opens up significant opportunities for society to adapt to technological advances that integrate physical and digital spaces. However, the gender gap presents a significant challenge, particularly for women who lack the knowledge to understand and master digital technology. This study aims to analyze the role of digital literacy in reducing the gender gap and promoting women's economic empowerment in the digital era. The appropriate research method for this study is descriptive qualitative, using literature studies and observations of groups of women micro-entrepreneurs in local communities, particularly in Bali. Data were collected from online publications, digital empowerment programs, and government reports related to digital literacy and gender equality. The results show that improving digital literacy skills has a significant impact on women's access to online marketing, financial management, and business competitiveness. Community based training programs, government support, and inclusive public policies have proven to be important factors in driving women's transformation from "tech-illiterate" to digitally literate. The limitations of this study lie in the scope of the data, which is still qualitative and does not cover all regions of Indonesia. Nevertheless, this study contributes to the study of gender and digital empowerment by offering concrete strategies to strengthen women's roles in an equitable digital economic ecosystem. Thus, women's digital transformation is not only a form of technological skill enhancement, but also a concrete step towards gender equality and achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).