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Mobile Phones and the Empowerment of Women in Developing Regions
1. Mobile Phones and the Empowerment of
Women In Developing R i
W I D l i Regions
Pam Kahl
University of Washington MCDM
Digital Media in Emerging Markets
Fall 2009
2. Fertility
Choices
Ch i
Tolerance for
Domestic
Violence
EMPOWERMENT
Economic
Independence
Decision
Making
M ki
Autonomy
3. MDG3
Promote gender equality
and empower women
Education
Political
Employment Decision
Opportunity Making
4. Key Findings
• Positive
• Ownership 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
• Source of distrust
8. No Silver Bullet
• Phones and Airtime Cost $$ • SMS requires literacy
• Aggravates gender conflicts • No guarantee of access
9. Looking Ahead
L ki Ah d
• Increased access to information and social
connections improves sense of opportunity
• Positive indicators that economic
empowerment can foster attitudinal shifts
• Must socialize new ideas with men as
much as women
• Change takes time
10.
11. Sources
African Renaissance Ambassador Corporation.
http://www.aracorporation.org/simm.html
Biriwasha, M. (2007, Jan 12) Women Fight for Rights with Cell
, ( , ) g g
Phones. OhMyNews. Retrieved ttp://english.ohmynews.com
Buskens, I. Webb, A. (Eds.) (2009).
Buskens I & Webb A (Eds ) (2009) African Women and
ICTs. Investigating , Technology and Empowerment
Diga, K.,
Diga K Dev M Comm B. (2008). Mobile Cell Phones and
M., B (2008)
Poverty Reduction: Technology Spending Patters and
Poverty Level Change among Households in Uganda
12. 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
13. 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-simm
p