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