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Mobile phones, gender, and female empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa: studies with African youth

Author

Listed:
  • Gina Porter
  • Kate Hampshire
  • Albert Abane
  • Alister Munthali
  • Elsbeth Robson
  • Ariane De Lannoy
  • Augustine Tanle
  • Samuel Owusu

Abstract

Data from qualitative and survey research with young people in 24 locations (urban and rural) across Ghana, Malawi, and South Africa expose the complex interplay between phone ownership and usage, female empowerment, and chronic poverty in Africa. We consider gendered patterns of phone ownership and use before examining practices of use in educational settings, in business and in romantic and sexual relationships. While some reshaping of everyday routines is evident, in the specific context of female empowerment we find little support within our sites for the concept of the mobile phone as an instrument of positive transformative change. The phone's application in romantic and sexual relationships demonstrates particularly strongly the way phones are complicit in constraining women's empowerment and points to potential wider repercussions, including for educational and entrepreneurship trajectories. Women's agency is still mired within wider structures of patriarchy and chronic poverty: existing inequalities are being re-inscribed and reinforced.

Suggested Citation

  • Gina Porter & Kate Hampshire & Albert Abane & Alister Munthali & Elsbeth Robson & Ariane De Lannoy & Augustine Tanle & Samuel Owusu, 2020. "Mobile phones, gender, and female empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa: studies with African youth," Information Technology for Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 26(1), pages 180-193, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:titdxx:v:26:y:2020:i:1:p:180-193
    DOI: 10.1080/02681102.2019.1622500
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    Cited by:

    1. Geir Gunnlaugsson & Thomas Andrew Whitehead & Fatou N’dure Baboudóttir & Aladje Baldé & Zeca Jandi & Hamadou Boiro & Jónína Einarsdóttir, 2020. "Use of Digital Technology among Adolescents Attending Schools in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Hampshire, Kate & Mwase-Vuma, Tawonga & Alemu, Kassahun & Abane, Albert & Munthali, Alister & Awoke, Tadesse & Mariwah, Simon & Chamdimba, Elita & Owusu, Samuel Asiedu & Robson, Elsbeth & Castelli, Mi, 2021. "Informal mhealth at scale in Africa: Opportunities and challenges," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    3. Jahar Bhowmik & Raaj Kishore Biswas, 2022. "Married Women’s Attitude toward Intimate Partner Violence Is Influenced by Exposure to Media: A Population-Based Spatial Study in Bangladesh," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-15, March.
    4. Martin C. Parlasca, 2021. "A vital technology: Review of the literature on mobile phone use among pastoralists," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(4), pages 780-799, May.
    5. Contreras, Hugo Alejandro & Candia, Cristian & Olchevskaia, Rodrigo Vladislav Troncoso & Ferres, Leo & Celedón, María Loreto Bravo & Lepri, Bruno & Rodriguez-Sickert, Carlos, 2023. "Linking Physical Violence to Women's Mobility in Chile," SocArXiv uad59, Center for Open Science.
    6. Porter, G. & Murphy, E. & Adamu, F. & Dayil, P.B. & De Lannoy, A. & Han, S. & Mansour, H. & Dungey, C. & Ahmad, H. & Maskiti, B. & S, Clark & Van der Weidje, K., 2021. "Women’s mobility and transport in the peripheries of three African cities: Reflecting on early impacts of COVID-19," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 181-190.
    7. Chen, Jingjing, 2021. "Do mobile phones empower women? A perspective from rural India," Warwick-Monash Economics Student Papers 09, Warwick Monash Economics Student Papers.

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