Technology empowerment: A path to poverty alleviation for Chinese women from the perspective of development communication

By 2020, China had won a comprehensive victory in poverty alleviation, having completed the largest poverty alleviation task in human history and provided a Chinese solution to poverty alleviation worldwide. From the perspective of development communication and through the case study approach, this paper focuses on the practice of poverty alleviation conducted by Chinese rural left-behind women with the help of Internet technology. Furthermore, the paper summarizes three main forms of women's poverty alleviation, including the model of Internet celebrities using social media to sell local products; the model of the government taking the lead in building an online learning, training and sales platform; and the model combining government guidance, enterprise empowerment and media promotion. This paper explores the paths to poverty alleviation and the sustainable development of poor Chinese women in rural areas. It also provides a reference for the future practice of women's poverty alleviation for developing countries and regions. •This paper puts forth three typical models for rural left-behind women to get out of poverty in China.•Technology empowerment and digital advancement catalyze the poverty reduction process and improve women's social status.•China's poverty alleviation experiences provide important enlightenment for other underdeveloped regions.