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Resilience and (Dis)empowerment: Use of Social Media Among Female Mainland Low-Skilled Workers in Macao During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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  • Bei Ju
  • Hai Min Dai
  • Todd L. Sandel

Abstract

The role of social media in a resilient process is associated with the co-constitution of structural forces and users’ agency. During COVID-19, how women—particularly low-skilled labor migrants—used social media for empowerment is underexplored. By taking a socio-techno approach, this study qualitatively examines mobile phone-based social media usage among female mainland low-skilled workers in Macao when coping with the pandemic. The enabling yet constraining role of social media has been identified through semi-structured interviews. Social media use is a double-edged sword: on the one hand, social media is appropriated to relieve stress and anxiety, open access to updated COVID-19 related information, and manage contagious risks; on the other hand, it reinforces existing constraints and thus hinders resilience, due to female migrant workers’ high risk of addictive social media use and limited information literacy. Moving beyond the Information and Communication Technology empowerment, a more inclusive approach is recommended in the long term to cope with the risks and uncertainties posed by the pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Bei Ju & Hai Min Dai & Todd L. Sandel, 2023. "Resilience and (Dis)empowerment: Use of Social Media Among Female Mainland Low-Skilled Workers in Macao During the COVID-19 Pandemic," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(1), pages 21582440231, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:21582440231160480
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440231160480
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    1. Liu He & Hamedi Bin Mohd Adnan & Ali Fauzi & Muhamad Shamsul Ibrahim, 2024. "The effect of social media engagement on social integration of elderly migrants in China: the mechanism of perceived social support and psychological resilience," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.

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