Patricia . K. LithoPatricia . K. LithoUniversity of East LondonUniversity of East London

Gender, ICTs and Development workshop, IDPM’s Gender, ICTs and Development workshop, IDPM’s University of Manchester, 6University of Manchester, 6thth June 2006 June 2006

Structure of the presentationStructure of the presentation

IntroductionIntroduction– ICTs for development (ICT4D)ICTs for development (ICT4D)– The research contextThe research context

Theoretical perspectivesTheoretical perspectives– African feminist perspectivesAfrican feminist perspectives– The Social Construction of technologyThe Social Construction of technology– Empowerment: the problem of meaning and Empowerment: the problem of meaning and

measurementmeasurement The research methodologyThe research methodology Emerging issuesEmerging issues ConclusionConclusion

IntroductionIntroduction The emergence of ICTs has had The emergence of ICTs has had

great impact on several socio-cultural, great impact on several socio-cultural, economic and political aspects of our economic and political aspects of our lives including the development lives including the development agenda.agenda.

This is evident in the level of This is evident in the level of investment in the area of ICTs for investment in the area of ICTs for development.development.

In 2003 alone, the Canadian government In 2003 alone, the Canadian government contributed about 35 million US dollars contributed about 35 million US dollars towards bridging the digital divide.towards bridging the digital divide.

Besides the actual ICT projects in various Besides the actual ICT projects in various countries, the number of local, national countries, the number of local, national and international forums looking at ICTs and international forums looking at ICTs for development is also an indicator. This for development is also an indicator. This very workshop for instance and WSIS very workshop for instance and WSIS 2005 among others.2005 among others.

ICT4D within UgandaICT4D within Uganda The belief in ICTs has also had impact on The belief in ICTs has also had impact on

gender and development discourse. gender and development discourse. Several initiatives are trying to use ICTs as Several initiatives are trying to use ICTs as a means to ‘empower' women and address a means to ‘empower' women and address other women issues.other women issues.

Uganda has been no exception; It has Uganda has been no exception; It has embraced ICTs and several initiatives have embraced ICTs and several initiatives have been set up, the latest being the been set up, the latest being the establishment of two ICT ministries; establishment of two ICT ministries; ministry of information and national ministry of information and national guidance and ministry of communication guidance and ministry of communication and ICT (INetwork Dgroup, June 2006).and ICT (INetwork Dgroup, June 2006).

The research contextThe research context

In Uganda, women specific ICT project have In Uganda, women specific ICT project have also been set up. One such project is the also been set up. One such project is the CEEWA ICT project established with an aim CEEWA ICT project established with an aim to economically empower women. Through to economically empower women. Through the project women ‘entrepreneurs’ have the project women ‘entrepreneurs’ have been targeted, they have been given been targeted, they have been given training in computer usage as well as training in computer usage as well as business skills. Key concern for this study business skills. Key concern for this study however is; did the CEWA project however is; did the CEWA project beneficiaries actually get empowered as a beneficiaries actually get empowered as a result using ICTs?result using ICTs?

Theoretical discussionsTheoretical discussions

Before proceeding, however, there is a need to have a Before proceeding, however, there is a need to have a common understanding of ‘empowerment’ and the common understanding of ‘empowerment’ and the theoretical positions that this paper is based so as to theoretical positions that this paper is based so as to appreciated the issues raised in relation to ICTs and appreciated the issues raised in relation to ICTs and women’s ‘empowerment’.women’s ‘empowerment’.

Besides questioning the meaning of empowerment Besides questioning the meaning of empowerment this paper also employs an African feminist as an this paper also employs an African feminist as an overarching approach to looking at ICTs as overarching approach to looking at ICTs as experienced within Africa and the social construction experienced within Africa and the social construction of technology theory to analyse technological and of technology theory to analyse technological and social changes in the Uganda context. social changes in the Uganda context.

Empowerment: Empowerment: a problem of meaning and measurementa problem of meaning and measurement

Like several development concepts, Like several development concepts, ‘empowerment’ is used a fluid way that seem to ‘empowerment’ is used a fluid way that seem to conceal what actually happens. For this reason conceal what actually happens. For this reason this study critically looked at the CEEWA ICT this study critically looked at the CEEWA ICT project and the following questions were raised; project and the following questions were raised; what is empowerment? How was it defined in the what is empowerment? How was it defined in the project, how was empowerment measured in the project, how was empowerment measured in the project? Do ICTs actually empower women?project? Do ICTs actually empower women?

Unless these questions are answered, it is really Unless these questions are answered, it is really unjustified to claim that ICTs have the potential to unjustified to claim that ICTs have the potential to empower women. empower women.

Empowerment: Empowerment:

Although defining empowerment is subject Although defining empowerment is subject to debate because of the different ways is to debate because of the different ways is used; to ensure a meaningful discussion this used; to ensure a meaningful discussion this paper looks at it;paper looks at it;

as a multidimensional process through which as a multidimensional process through which women become aware of their subordinate women become aware of their subordinate position, the power structures in their position, the power structures in their environment and then try to do something to environment and then try to do something to overcome these constraintsovercome these constraints. .

Empowerment: Empowerment:

The Longwe women’s empowerment framework is The Longwe women’s empowerment framework is viewed as a possible framework for analysis viewed as a possible framework for analysis because it enables planners question because it enables planners question empowerment and examine the extend to which empowerment and examine the extend to which projects led to empowerment. According to projects led to empowerment. According to Longwe (1994), only by addressing the five levels Longwe (1994), only by addressing the five levels at which gender gaps exist can empowerment at which gender gaps exist can empowerment begin to exist. These five levels include; welfare, begin to exist. These five levels include; welfare, access, control, conscientisation and participation. access, control, conscientisation and participation.

The Social construction of The Social construction of technology (SCOT)technology (SCOT)

SCOT is a social shaping of technology theory that SCOT is a social shaping of technology theory that emerged as criticism to the technological emerged as criticism to the technological determinist theory that views technology as determinist theory that views technology as leading to increased opportunities and that the leading to increased opportunities and that the absence of technology lead to constraints.absence of technology lead to constraints.

According to SCOT, technologies emerge out of a According to SCOT, technologies emerge out of a process of choice and negotiation and that the process of choice and negotiation and that the shape a technology takes is influenced by the shape a technology takes is influenced by the interests of a powerful group. The four principles interests of a powerful group. The four principles of SCOT include; relevant social group, of SCOT include; relevant social group, interpretative flexibility, functionality and closureinterpretative flexibility, functionality and closure . .

African feminismAfrican feminism

This feminist standpoint is based on the principle This feminist standpoint is based on the principle that in order to represent others, it would do good that in order to represent others, it would do good to do so based on their actual experiences. African to do so based on their actual experiences. African feminist therefore feel that producing knowledge feminist therefore feel that producing knowledge on women in Africa would be better done by those on women in Africa would be better done by those who understand their valves better ; i.e. who understand their valves better ; i.e. themselves because women’s experiences are not themselves because women’s experiences are not homogenous and things are interpreted differently homogenous and things are interpreted differently by different groups of women.by different groups of women.

MethodologyMethodology

A qualitative approach was used to collect data. A qualitative approach was used to collect data. The techniques used include observations, The techniques used include observations, unstructured interviews, focus group discussions unstructured interviews, focus group discussions and a review of documents.and a review of documents.

The sample; project beneficiaries, the The sample; project beneficiaries, the implementing organisation, policy makers, implementing organisation, policy makers, government officials and donors (IDRC & Hivos).government officials and donors (IDRC & Hivos).

For analysis; a framework analytical approach was For analysis; a framework analytical approach was used, including the use of Nvivo qualitative used, including the use of Nvivo qualitative software for coding. The key concerns of the study software for coding. The key concerns of the study also informed the analysis.also informed the analysis.

Emerging issuesEmerging issues

The social groups in the project included; The social groups in the project included; development agencies, policy development agencies, policy makers/government, implementing agency makers/government, implementing agency and the project beneficiariesand the project beneficiaries

These groups held different positions which These groups held different positions which pretty much depended on their financial pretty much depended on their financial position and it did influence levels of position and it did influence levels of participation.participation.

These groups understood ICTs differently.These groups understood ICTs differently.One group thought all roads would lead to the One group thought all roads would lead to the

telecentre telecentre Source: Source: www.www.endnaendna..snsn//cyberpopcyberpop

It was thought that all services would be It was thought that all services would be provided at the telecentre; provided at the telecentre;

(Source: poster at Buwama telecentre)(Source: poster at Buwama telecentre)

But what actually happened can be illustrated But what actually happened can be illustrated through this picture of a bicycle phone booththrough this picture of a bicycle phone booth

The functionality of the ICT project and the Uganda context The functionality of the ICT project and the Uganda context generally can be seen through the story of the mobile generally can be seen through the story of the mobile

success story and illustrations like thus one .success story and illustrations like thus one .Source: Source: www.idrc.org/Uganda/telecentrewww.idrc.org/Uganda/telecentre

Computer usage in a women only environment. Computer usage in a women only environment. Source: The Monitor newspaper 2000:10Source: The Monitor newspaper 2000:10

ICTs and women’s ICTs and women’s empowermentempowerment

This is based on the ‘Longwe’This is based on the ‘Longwe’ WelfareWelfare AccessAccess ControlControl ParticipationParticipation Conscientisation Conscientisation

ConclusionsConclusions

ICTs do make a difference, it enables access to ICTs do make a difference, it enables access to information, offers opportunities at an individual information, offers opportunities at an individual and community level. ICTs makes it easier for and community level. ICTs makes it easier for business women to accomplish things faster but it business women to accomplish things faster but it does not always lead to empowerment.does not always lead to empowerment.

While welfare and access issues of empowerment While welfare and access issues of empowerment may be addressed my ICTs and to a certain extent may be addressed my ICTs and to a certain extent participation; there are limitations to how much participation; there are limitations to how much ICTs can actually do.ICTs can actually do.

The social cultural structural aspects like The social cultural structural aspects like controlcontrol (a core concern of feminists) remain (a core concern of feminists) remain unchanged. Women remain oppressed and unchanged. Women remain oppressed and in certain cases ICTs like the mobile phone in certain cases ICTs like the mobile phone actually increase domestic violence. The actually increase domestic violence. The CEEWA beneficiaries also indicated that CEEWA beneficiaries also indicated that while their income had improved, their while their income had improved, their domestic burden had actually increased.domestic burden had actually increased.

ReferencesReferences

Fox, R. (1996) Fox, R. (1996) Technological change: methods Technological change: methods and themes in the history of technologyand themes in the history of technology

Longwe, S. (1994) ‘from welfare to empowerment’Longwe, S. (1994) ‘from welfare to empowerment’ Mackenzie, D. and Wajcman, J. (1999) Mackenzie, D. and Wajcman, J. (1999) The social The social

shaping of technologyshaping of technology Narayan, D. (2005) Narayan, D. (2005) Measuring empowerment: Measuring empowerment:

cross-displinary perspectivescross-displinary perspectives Oyewumi, O. (2003) Oyewumi, O. (2003) African women and feminism: African women and feminism:

reflecting on the politics of sisterhoodreflecting on the politics of sisterhood