Mobile Phones and the Empowerment of Women in Developing Regions
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Mobile Phones and the Empowerment of W I D l i R i Women In Developing Regions Pam Kahl University of Washington MCDM Digital Media in Emerging Markets Fall 2009 Fall 2009
description
The role of mobile phones in creating social and economic opportunities for women
Transcript of Mobile Phones and the Empowerment of Women in Developing Regions
Mobile Phones and the Empowerment of W I D l i R iWomen In Developing Regions
Pam KahlUniversity of Washington MCDMDigital Media in Emerging MarketsFall 2009Fall 2009
Fertility Fertility Ch iCh iChoicesChoices
Tolerance for Tolerance for Domestic Domestic ViolenceViolence
EMPOWERMENTEMPOWERMENTEMPOWERMENTEMPOWERMENT
Economic Economic IndependenceIndependence
Decision Decision M kiM kiMaking Making
AutonomyAutonomy
MDG3Promote gender equality
and empower women
Education
Employment Opportunity
Political Decision MakingMaking
Key Findings
• Positive• Ownership equivalent to five extraOwnership equivalent to five extra
years of education• Tool for economic empowerment• Less tolerance for domestic violence• Sense of possibility
• Less• Fertility preferences• Independent decision making
• Negative• Negative• Source of distrust
SIMM Marketplace Grameen meets EbaySIMM Marketplace – Grameen meets Ebay
UmNyango – Spotlight on gender-based violence
CycleTel – Family planning goes SMS
• Phones and Airtime Cost $$ • SMS requires literacy
No Silver Bullet • Phones and Airtime Cost $$
• Aggravates gender conflicts
• SMS requires literacy
• No guarantee of access
L ki Ah dLooking Ahead
• Increased access to information and social connections improves sense of opportunity
• Positive indicators that economicPositive indicators that economic empowerment can foster attitudinal shifts
Must socialize new ideas with men as• Must socialize new ideas with men as much as women
• Change takes time
Sources African Renaissance Ambassador Corporation.
http://www.aracorporation.org/simm.html
Biriwasha, M. (2007, Jan 12) Women Fight for Rights with Cell , ( , ) g gPhones. OhMyNews. Retrieved ttp://english.ohmynews.com
Buskens I & Webb A (Eds ) (2009) African Women andBuskens, I. & Webb, A. (Eds.) (2009). African Women and ICTs. Investigating , Technology and Empowerment
Diga K Dev M Comm B (2008) Mobile Cell Phones andDiga, K., Dev M., Comm B. (2008). Mobile Cell Phones and Poverty Reduction: Technology Spending Patters and Poverty Level Change among Households in Uganda
Sources Esipsu, I. (2009, Nov. 25) Mobile Phone to Partner in Family
Planning Sunday Nation. Sunday Nation. Retrieved http://www.nation.co.ke
Institute for Reproductive Health, Georgetown University [Powerpoint Document]. Retrieved from http://www.slideshare.net/IRHgeorgetown/family-planning-via-mobile-phones-proofofconcept-testing-in-india-cycletel
Klonner, S. & Nolan, P. (2008). Does ICT Benefit the Poort? , , ( )Evidence from South Africa
Sources Kutoma, W. (2008). [Powerpoint Document] The Internet and
Mobile Telephony: Implications for Women’s Development and Empowerment in Zambia. Retrieved from http://www.mobileactive08.org/node/954
Lee, D. (May 2009). The Impact of Mobile Phones on the Status of Women in India
Netsquared. http://www.netsquared.org/projects/sustainable-impact-mobile-microfinance-simmp
Photo Credits Associated Press
Brendan Bannon/CARE
Phil Borges/CARE
Josh Estey/CARE
David Rochkind/CARE
