ABSTRACT
The research process revealed that Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests. Civil Society Organisation Networks are increasingly adopting the use of Mobile Cellular Telephony in their advocacy programs as the ICT increases in popularity across the entire Zambian Population. The general lack of Women’s free access to mobile services due to cost, retrogressive cultural practices and infrastructure limitations, obstruct general advancement in women’s effective collective use of the mobile cellular phone for advancement of women. As solutions are found for advancement of women, many questions emerge bordering on how to effectively insure women’s efficient access and effective utilization of communication services. The research process was informed by Zambian women leaders of a Civil Society Network and Communication specialists. Qualitative research methods where utilized. The Research process revealed that Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests.
WOMEN’S MOBILE COMMUNITIES ON MOBILE PHONE NETWORKS
INTRODUCTION
Through Mobile Cellular Phones, Zambian women communicate with other women as well as men from all sectors of Zambian society. Un-moderated and free content developed as they communicate consists of common interest issues; free content and support across a wide range of needs is being rendered across these communities from monetary exchange, information exchange and basic sharing of experiences. Cultural relations are evolving as physical ties are being replaced with ‘electronic ones’. Civil Society network Coordinators would rather call members’ mobile phones than fixed office lines because mobile phones surpass the bureaucracy and there is a guarantee of communicating with the desired subject. With a doubling of subscriptions from a million subscribers in 2006 to about double the amount by 2008, the Mobile, Cellular Phone presents itself as a rapidly growing phenomenon with service accessible across the country regardless of remoteness. This drastically exceeds the fixed line Telephony system that renders Zambia one of the lowest in Teledensity at 0.9 fixed line telephones per 100 people(9 people per 1000 with Telephone service[1]).
The general lack of Women’s free access to mobile services due to cost, retrogressive cultural practices and infrastructure limitations, obstruct general advancement in women’s effective collective use of the mobile cellular phone for advancement of women. Still not wholly accessible to the majority of women.
The objective of the research was to examine to what extent the mobile phone was impacting on women’s social ties in Zambia’s NGOC[2]C civil society networks.
The research was carried out in Lusaka the capital city of Zambia over a period of one year. Qualitative Research methods where utilized. The Research process identified respondents and structured the group in two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ. Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Research process identified respondents by structurally interviewing key stake holders in the process of service provision. The structure involves two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. They give detailed personal accounts of how they use the Mobile Cellular phone as a tool for communication both in their lives and collectively within networks; their insights shed light on the personal experiences that characterize women in this group. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ. Through this group, technical insight in the systems of service delivery and the possibilities for change both possible and intentioned was collected.
Throughout the research process, a participatory process with respondents was utilized based on acceptance of the understanding that Social innovations succeed when social sectors play a role and intentionality of women users is complex and undeterminable; Only the general sense indicating patterns was considered through a rigorous process informed by a selection of Qualitative research methods that encompass the general GRACE Research methodology process. These methods include;
· The Free Attitude interview
· Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis(Exercising a reflective stance)
· Literature Reviews
The respondents where active participants in the research process and they gave their consent and endorsement of the Research.
RESULTS
The research process revealed that Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests.
To examine the extent to which the mobile phone was impacting on women’s social ties in Zambia’s NGOCC civil society networks, the research revealed that;
· Mobile Cellular Phone Telephony can contribute to ‘Leap Frogging’ and bridging The Digital Divide in Zambian sectors of society between Rural Areas and urban areas; Men and women; economically empowered communities and those that are Un-empowered. It can be a Conduit for Economic Development for women.
· Mobile Cellular Telephony can present the concepts of Freedom of Association and the Freedom of Expression as a Reality for Women; it can provide a space for Enhanced positions of Women within the Culturally Limiting Zambian Society.
DISCUSSION
The research process revealed that Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests.
To examine the extent to which the mobile phone was impacting on women’s social ties in Zambia’s NGOCC civil society networks, the research was carried out in Lusaka the capital city of Zambia over a period of one year. Qualitative Research methods where utilized. The Research process identified respondents and structured the group in two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ
To examine the extent to which the mobile phone was impacting on women’s social ties in Zambia’s NGOCC civil society networks, the research revealed that;
· Mobile Cellular Phone Telephony can contribute to ‘Leap Frogging’ and bridging The Digital Divide in Zambian sectors of society between Rural Areas and urban areas; Men and women; economically empowered communities and those that are Un-empowered. It can be a Conduit for Economic Development for women.
The emergence of the Mobile Cellular Phone service and its availability in remote areas presents an opportunity to link remote communities with urban centers like never before.
From lack of access to fixed line telephony; women in disadvantaged communities can access telephony through mobile handsets. With integrated ICT services like internet and mms, the phone has ‘Leap Frogged[3]’ communities into the digital age.
Women’s empowerment networks have noticed the power of ‘Leap Frogging’ rural women as is the case with a One World Africa stimulated project in Zambia where the organisation with the assistance of a Mobile Cellular Phone Service provider donated Mobile Cellular phones to a rural women’s community development Organisation. One Word’s Programs officer summarized the gesture as follows “ This helps them make informed decisions that impact peoples’ lives regarding poverty, human resource and social projects and its relation to development.” The intention of the donation was to eradicate poverty by opening up outreach possibilities for the rural community. With the equipment, they could make queries on farm good prices at the market and which markets offered the best prices before they left their rural area, in effect saving vital resources. Their social standing as women regardless of the social/ cultural limitations was upgraded as they became Economic nodes and influential communication providers in the community.
These women are effectively within reach of other women’s networks across the country that have access to mobile phones and through the communication tool, they can reach out for limitless assistance and share the nature of their circumstances.
The mobile Cellular Phone contributes to breaking down of traditional barriers of development such as time, and spatial separation. This in turn increases integration of markets improves commerce and geo-political relations[4].
· Mobile Cellular Telephony can present the concepts of Freedom of Association and the Freedom of Expression as a Reality for Women; it can provide a space for Enhanced positions of Women within the Culturally Limiting Zambian Society.
Through the mobile phone, women’s networks in Zambia have been advocating for change, updating Social Development Networks and influencing decisions by informing stake-holders of implications of decisions that might have implications on women[5]. While the National bill of rights provides for the protection of the freedom of expression, assembly and association, Zambian women are confined by cultural and religious tendencies that relegate them to being second-class citizens in relation to men. It is this suppression that in many cases manifests itself in the media as women are subjected to gender based violence for matters related to their partner being unsatisfied with their use of the mobile Cellular phone[6]. The Mobile Phone evokes a feeling of ownership and privacy in the user[7]. The conflict can be indicative of women’s greater awareness of their own individuality and their attempts at establishing independence of communication through ownership of the communication tool. As a communication tool that women can own and independently have rights over, the mobile Phone grants women a renewed freedom to communicate with whosoever they want, say what ever they want and when they want to. In a subjective environment where they are traditionally subordinates of men, such opportunity revolutionizes gender relations.
CHALLENGES AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION
REDUCE COSTS RELATED TO USE
Exploitative costing cripples users and reduces disposable incomes. Government policy intervention could reduce taxes that influence cost and where in merit, as in the European Union Roaming charge intervention[8], tone down exploitative costing frameworks
MOBILIZE WOMEN AND CREATE MOBILE COMMUNITIES
From examples of effective Mobile Phone enhanced mobilization above, it is clear that formalization of mobile communities would add to effectiveness of this method of advocacy. Networks like the NGOCC can include expenditure for mobile Cellular Phone advocacy into the program and advocacy budgets. They can work towards creating beneficial ways for inclusion of women of all walks of life into these communities i.e. Women with Disabilities.
ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN SPECIFIC SERVICES
Currently there are services integrated by the service providers for groups like farmers, business etc where users can access commodity prices, and flight schedules at a limited cost. For women’s advocacy, information on what to do in times of abuse, maternal health notes and definitions of women’s disempowerment situations can also be posted for free access to users.
TRADE IN MOBILE CELLULAR PHONES AND MOVE BEYOND MARE USE TO PROVISION
As opposed to being mare users, Women’s groups can evolve to being communication hubs in their communities by trading in the Mobile Communication services. This provides opportunity to shift to a position of influence in the community and they can quickly also become Economic nodes (Sinha)
The main challenge for women’s networking remains the cost of maintaining the Mobile Cellular Phone. To start with, the handset is very costly at about $25US, few women can afford this. Costs related to topping up with talk time Units are also limiting. Only Women with talk-time (Call units) will be privileged members of the mobile community, with the ability to initiate conversation and having the power of choice of when to communicate. Those with no call units may be included at the discretion of those who do. This can present negative effects of such networking and exacerbate inequalities if not rectified.
IMPLICATIONS
The value of women’s networking on the mobile phone is driven by the principle of Social Capital. Clear is the fact that because of the circumstances of Zambian Women, power and resources can be more easily achieved through collective efforts[9]. Further, the Theory of Social Capital can be applied in showing the nature and extent to which social interaction between communities and institutions shape economic performance.
Beyond it’s individual members, Women’s networking organizations like the NGOCC have immeasurable potential through Social groups. Social Networks are the structural element s that it has utilized in achieving the vast changes towards women’s progress (Table of Women’s Advocacy Actions Aided by Mobile Cellular Phone) not only within its immediate organizational environment but also Nationwide.
The findings of the research present an awakening to the untapped potential of the mobile phone. In the possession of many women, development related programs can be channeled through it to its owner.
· Disadvantaged communities are closer to advanced communication technologies like never before. However, the challenge remains utilizing advanced services like internet beyond the voice telephony. For women, the challenge is greater. The NGOCC suggests that women are slower to utilizing ICTs because of the cultural socialization that ingrains the expectation of boys taking an interest in Science subjects at school while girls are relegated to domestic subjects.
· As a tool the mobile Cellular Phone can be used to alleviate or enforce the negative cultural and historical discrimination of women. It is an opportunity for the creation of a reality that women want to see. The content created through it can be beneficial to women; it can be created and determined by women. It can present women as equals over the network with men who in face to face interaction would be a source of intimidation; it can be a communication platform that cuts across the boundaries of culture and sidesteps bureaucracies.
NEED FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
The research process was challenging in that there was generally inadequate gender databanks on women and ICT in women’s empowerment organizations visited. The chief source of information on the status of women remains the media, it must be noted that the media in Zambia still remains subjective in terms of progressive portrayal of the status of women in Zambia.
Further research on the potential of VOIP replacing traditional mobile Cellular Phone Telephony as a sustainable communication method needs to be explored; other research can focus on the health implications of using modified and outdated mobile cellular phones in poor communities.
SUMMARY
Mobile Cellular Phone Telephony can contribute to ‘Leap Frogging’ and Bridging the Digital Divide in Zambian sectors of society between Rural Areas and urban areas; Men and women; economically empowered communities and those that are Un-empowered. It can be a Conduit for Economic Development for women. Mobile Cellular Telephony can present the concepts of Freedom of Association and the Freedom of Expression as a Reality for Women; it can provide a space for Enhanced positions of Women within the Culturally Limiting Zambian Society. Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The research respondents where invaluable and I wish to thank them for taking their time off busy schedules to attend to me. Mato Shimabale Strategic Marketing Manager at Celtel Zambia, Bob Wang at ZTE, Charles Kaile Data clerk MMD Secretariat, Kiato Biemba Mobiliser MMD Secretariat, Felix Mwansa Research and publications MMD Secretariat, Mr. Daka Assistant Personnel Manager Zamtel, Susan Chilala Zambia Council for Social Development Zambia Association for Research and Development ZARD, Priscilla Mpundu former Past Executive Director ZARD, Susan Mwape CSO APRM Zambia, Priscilla Jere Oneworld, Leah Mitaba NGOCC, The NGOCC Secretariat and Zambia Competitions Commission ZCC.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Against Neoliberalism: Gender, Democracy and Development Chachage,Chachage and Mbilinyi 2005)
Beijing +10 shadow report on the situation of women in Zambia (NGOCC 2004)
Beyond God the Father toward a philosophy of women’s liberation(Daly 1985)
Do Mobiles cost the Earth? (Kives BBC : http:www.bbc.co.uk/z/hi/science/nature/6174422.stm)
Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities (Sinha 2005)
Electromagnetic Fields and public health: Mobile telephones and their base stations (WHO IEGMP 2000: HTTP://www.who.int/mediacentre/facsheets/fs1923/en/pnt.html)
Fine lines or Strong cords? Who do we think we are and who do we think we can become in the quest for quality in Qualitative Research (Buskens 2001)
Handbook of media laws in Zambia (Chanda and Liswaniso 1999)
Informal economy fighting poverty in Zambian Markets ()
Is Multiculturalism bad for women? (Okin)
My views on the news! The southern African Gender and Media Udience Study (Morna, Ramaand Muriungi 2005)
National Communication and information Technology Policy (Zambia 2006)
Power and self (Mageo 2002)
The Development of peoples. Challenges for today and tomorrow essays to mark the Fortieth Anniversary of Populorum Progressio (2007)
We make the road by walking, conversations on education and social Change (Horton and Freire 1990
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25563)
[1] Zambia National ICT Policy 2006
[2] NGOCC the Non Governmental Organizing Coordinating Council is a women’s Organisation umbrella body with a membership of 83 organizations representing varied mandates.
[3] Leap Frogging is a principle that is designed to help bridge the digital divide by implementing up-to-date technology in an area where that technology is not yet in use.
[4] Zambia National ICT Policy Lusaka 2006
[5] TABLE OF WOMEN’S ADVICACY ACTIONS AIDED BY MOBILE CELLULAR PHONE
Case
Context
Action taken through the Mobile Cellular Phone
Result
Elections monitoring
During the 2006 General elections, the NGOCC networks campaigned for women by communicating women candidates to vote for
Alerts to the membership during campaigns where sent via SMS and during counting of ballots, updates on whom was winning where sent on the minute. This was never before seen in the closely contested election as fears of indiscriminate vote rigging where largely dispelled as a result
There is currently the largest number of women in Government and parliament than ever before.
Firing of the mayor
In early 2007, the mayor of Lusaka Susan Nakazwe ; a woman was expelled from her party for taking part in a Presidential parade to welcome the Chinese President that was forbidden by the opposition party she belonged to
Updates to expose the gender implications of losing the mayor in the position where sent out across the country through the mobile. SMSs where also sent to her to giver her comfort
The Female mayor lost her position but is aware of the support rendered to her.
Firing of the minister of Health
The Female Minister of health Angela Cifire was fired from her post in mid 2007.
SMSs to Angela Cifire where sent to give her encouragement and advocacy messages for reinstatement where sent across the country
She was reinstated as minister but in the different portfolio of Deputy minister of Sport
The Arranged marriage of a UNZA Student
There is currently a case in the High Court of Zambia where a University of Zambia student is being forced it marriage to an older man residing in Somalia by her parents
Updates on court hearings are sent to inform supporters to turn up in numbers to give support to the Female student who has been shunned by her family
The Student has won the support of many Zambians and her case is public knowledge
The constitutional making process
The process of developing and adopting a constitutional making process is underway in Zambia
The process of adopting a constitution in Zambia Is currently a contentious one with parties arguing on the mode of adoption. SMSs sent to networks on the issue largely give reasons for the best modes of adoption and implications of bad constitutions
The Process is currently underway
[6] http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25563
[7] Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities (Sinha 2005)
[8] www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/idselect/iducom/79/791.pdf
[9] Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities (Sinha 2005)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
MOBILE CELLULAR PHONES FOR ZAMBIAN WOMEN: MAKING LIFE BETTER
INTRODUCTION
80% of the total population of Zambians in Zambia is considered impoverished and live on less than a dollar a day, the majority being Women. The country is ranked 166th out of 177 in the 2003 UN Human Development Index where 1 is the wealthiest and 177 counts for the most impoverished. Over a third of the population is not formally employed and survives on small scale trading and street vending. The extreme conditions in the country have warranted the emergence of Civil Society Organizations like the Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) to assist the government in mitigating the Social development needs of the country. Most of these organizations place women’s empowerment first on their agenda. According to the NGOCC report on the status of women 2004, five priority areas in Zambia for the Advancement of women include;
· The persistent and growing burden of poverty on women and their unequal access to resources and participation in economic structure and policies;
· Inequality in access to and opportunities in education, skills development and training;
· Women’s unequal access to health and related services;
· Inequality between women and men in the sharing of Power and decision making; and
· The rights of the girl child
To coordinate efforts with Organizations that form its membership, the NGOCC has formed Communication Networks to share and collect information. It utilizes Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategies such as Email, Radio and recently the Mobile Cellular Phone for communication. The Mobile Cellular Phone has emerged as a convenient approach for communication due to its properties as a technology that can be utilized in remote areas where infrastructure for conventional fixed line Telephone communication does not exist. Generally convenient for advocacy purposes as opposed to the fixed line Telephone, the mobile phone is currently the most utilized Telephony system in the country accounting for about 2,000,000 subscribers in 2008 with indicators showing a doubling of subscribers since 2006. Most Communications infrastructure development is concentrated along the line of rail owing to Mobile Cellular Phones being the best communication option for Women’s empowerment Networks in outlying areas where poverty has become extensive.
The limitations to the Women’s Empowerment Networks and women in general in utilizing the Mobile Cellular Phones effectively have become obstructions to progress. The cost of purchasing and maintaining the Mobile Cellular Phone handset for receiving and making calls, the connection costs to the Service providers, the many unanswered questions on the unknown negative health effects related to using the mobile Cellular Phone, the potential for the mobile phone’s contribution to pollution, the unavailability of electricity infrastructure in disadvantaged communities or cost of access to electricity (Mobile Pones need constant battery charging), the belief that it enforces promiscuity and lies, and the exorbitant tariffs attached to making calls. Due to its relative newness on the Zambian scene and the Zambian Civil Society context, effective uses of the tool are emerging.
In light of the challenges met by the Zambian Women’s networks to utilize the mobile phone more effectively in their work to empower Zambian women, the following questions emerge;
· How can Women’s Networks in Zambia like the NGOCC network create beneficial networks with other women and women’s networks to form mutually beneficial alliances to achieve the five priority areas for women’s empowerment in Zambia[1]?
· What needs to be done in order to make the mobile phone more accessible and beneficial to women in Zambia?
· What do women need to know in order for them to make wiser decisions on whether they should use the mobile phone for their communication?
· To what extent can Women’s Empowerment through the achievement of the five priority areas be achievable with the use of the mobile Cellular phone?
The Research objective was to establish how members of the NGOCC Women’s Network in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women. The research was carried out in Lusaka the capital city of Zambia over a period of one year. Qualitative Research methods where utilized. The Research process identified respondents and structured the group in two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ.
The research process revealed that Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Research process identified respondents by structurally interviewing key stake holders in the process of service provision. The structure involves two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. They give detailed personal accounts of how they use the Mobile Cellular phone as a tool for communication both in their lives and collectively within networks; their insights shed light on the personal experiences that characterize women in this group. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ. Through this group, technical insight in the systems of service delivery and the possibilities for change both possible and intentioned was collected.
Throughout the research process, a participatory process with respondents was utilized based on acceptance of the understanding that Social innovations succeed when social sectors play a role and intentionality of women users is complex and undeterminable; Only the general sense indicating patterns was considered through a rigorous process informed by a selection of Qualitative research methods that encompass the general GRACE Research methodology process. These methods include;
· The Free Attitude interview
· Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis(Exercising a reflective stance)
· Literature Reviews
The respondents where active participants in the research process and they gave their consent and endorsement of the research process.
REVELATIONS
The research process revealed that Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia.
To establish how members of the NGOCC Women’s Network in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women, the research found;
· There is no compilation of Gender Disaggregated data on Mobile Cellular Phone use in Zambia.
Women’s Organisations that have been involved in work on women’s empowerment are usually incapacitated to carry out Research and often do not have documented records in terms of the relationship between women’s empowerment and ICTs like Mobile Phones.
The absence of disaggregated data makes it difficult for effective tracking of Women’s access and use of the Mobile Cellular phone. The opportunity to improve the general effects of the tool in women’s communication through service delivery is severely limited as a result. Other than the absence of disaggregated data, whose absence is indication of a lack of policy interest, general research on mobile phones in relation to women’s empowerment still remains scant to non existent.
· Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests as the Mobile Cellular Phone becomes the most commonly used Telephone communication tool in Zambia.
Women who own mobile Phones communicate with other women as well as men. Un-moderated and free content developed as they communicate consists of common interest issues; free content and support across a wide range of needs is being rendered across these communities from monetary exchange, information exchange and basic sharing of experiences. Cultural relations are evolving as physical ties are being replaced with ‘electronic ones’.
· Mobile Services i.e. The Internet, MMS and Radio Integrated into the Mobile Phone Service system in Zambia provide access to ICT services across the broad spectrum of Zambian women beyond Telephone (voice) Communication
A broad spectrum of Women is within reach of other ICT Services through their mobile phones, this includes rural communities. However access to services is not a prerequisite to utilization as Zambian women continue to face the challenge of illiteracy, and low incomes. Note that services while in reach require subscribers to pay for utilization, the charges for convenient utilization remain limiting for most Zambians.
· The poorer the Community, the higher the use of the Mobile Cellular Phone to meet Communication Needs: Mobile Cellular Phone Communication is more a method of Communication for poor communities than economically stable ones.
Women in poor communities most often have no other choice of communication beyond the Mobile Cellular Phone as infrastructure is absent there. These communities develop coping strategies on how to utilize the mobile Cellular Phone around the limitations of costs of doing so.
· The Presence of the Mobile Cellular Phone stimulates gender based conflicts in Zambian Communities.
It remains largely difficult to establish whether the utilization of the mobile phone is a source of domestic conflict and gender based conflict. However, the frequency of cases where Gender based conflicts has occurred and the mobile Cellular Phone was cited as a contributing factor suggests adequate merit for investigation. The Socialization of Zambians based on deep cultural, traditional and religious grounds brings to the fore the principle that married couples are one. This principle contradicts the customized nature of the mobile phone that presents it as a personal and private property owned by its user. In a home where a couple each own a mobile phone, the boundary of ownership is often crossed out of both curiosity and suspicion on whom the other partner is communicating with. At this moment, conflict arises and the consequences in the extreme include gender based violence, divorce etc.
DISCUSSION
Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia. The Research to establish how members of the NGOCC Women’s Networks in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women was carried out in Lusaka over a one year period. The core respondent base was informed by 5 women leaders who are members of the NGOCC Network.
Assessment
· There is no compilation of Gender Disaggregated data on Mobile Cellular Phone use in Zambia.
Women’s Organisations that have been involved in work on women’s empowerment are usually incapacitated to carry out Research and often do not have documented records in terms of the relationship between women’s empowerment and ICTs like Mobile Phones.
The absence of disaggregated data makes it difficult for effective tracking of Women’s access and use of the Mobile Cellular phone. The opportunity to improve the general effects of the tool in women’s communication through service delivery is severely limited as a result. Other than the absence of disaggregated data, whose absence is indication of a lack of policy interest, general research on mobile phones in relation to women’s empowerment still remains scant to non existent.
The culture of institutional memory retention is poor. Officers tend to keep information in their private custody and after they leave office it vanishes with them. NGOCC Report.
The media laws of the country are the basis for the impediments to easy information access in public service institutions (Chanda, Liswaniso). Bureaucracy must be followed at all times.
The media largely remains a source of information on a wide spectrum of issues including information on gender. However it is mostly Skewed towards portraying women negatively. Many institutions are working to reform it. It is the chief source of the narrative of women’s oppression. (My views on the news! Morna, Ramaand Muriungi 2005)
NGOCC is working to develop a data bank on women’s status through its information resource center. There is a general absence of such measures across the board.
· Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests as the Mobile Cellular Phone becomes the most commonly used Telephone communication tool in Zambia.
Women who own mobile Phones communicate with other women as well as men. Un-moderated and free content developed as they communicate consists of common interest issues; free content and support across a wide range of needs is being rendered across these communities from monetary exchange, information exchange and basic sharing of experiences. Cultural relations are evolving as physical ties are being replaced with ‘electronic ones’. The NGOCC secretariat would rather call members’ mobile phones than fixed office lines because mobile phones surpass the bureaucracy and there is a guarantee of communicating with the desired subject.
To better visualize the concept of Mobile Communities created by the body of women users of the Mobile phone who are affiliated to the NGOCC network, we can hold the image of communities. Each community is configured when contact on a matter of common interest is initiated. Every individual user determines the configuration of participants in their own matter of interest and they play a leading role in determining the content produced through discussions.
As Chaitali Sinha puts it, in the paper ‘Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities’, A way to describe the value of networking on the mobile phone is the principle of Social Capital. In the paper, what is made clear is the fact that because of the circumstances of the poor, power and resources are achieved through collective efforts. Further, the Theory of Social Capital can be applied in showing the nature and extent to which social interaction between communities and institutions shape economic performance.
Beyond it’s individual members, organizations like the NGOCC have immeasurable potential through Social groups. Social Networks are the structural element s that it has utilized in achieving the vast changes towards women’s progress not only within its immediate organizational environment but also Nationwide.
While pointing out that communities can be created through exchanges of voice and data via mobile Phone, a major factor to consider is Money.
Only Women with talk-time (Call units) will be privileged members of the mobile community, with the ability to initiate conversation and having the power of choice of when to communicate. Those with no call units may be included at the discretion of those who do. This can present negative effects of such networking and exacerbate inequalities if not rectified. Beeping and the SMS are coping methods in situations where users want to avoid costs as they are almost free. Network members can beep the institution and the institution will call them back, this practice is widespread across the spectrum of users.
Formal institutions like the NGOCC are slow to adapt to the requirements of maintaining mobile communication networks. It supports members who face economic hardships by calling them to alert them on developments. Such members most often depend on a communal Mobile phone. In most cases, a person with a mobile phone becomes a communication hub for the community and they relay information establishing themselves as a community economical hub.
The advocacy department of the NGOCC does not incentivize to provide for mobile communication expenditure of officers.
Social Capital is created on the NGOCC network as members of mobile communities communicate freely, from any location across unlimited geographical locations in Zambia. Sinha argues that these phone calls reinforce social networks and in turn generate social capital. For the NGOCC this sort of capital is a prerequisite to policy influence and successful advocacy.
As is evident in the following cases where the mobile Cellular Phone was used for advocacy;
Case
Context
Action taken through the Mobile Cellular Phone
Result
Elections monitoring
During the 2006 General elections, the NGOCC networks campaigned for women by communicating women candidates to vote for
Alerts to the membership during campaigns where sent via sms and during counting of ballots, updates on who was winning where sent on the minute. This was never before seen in the closely contested election as fears of indiscriminate vote rigging where largely dispelled as a result
There is currently the largest number of women in Government and parliament than ever before.
Firing of the mayor
In early 2007, the mayor of Lusaka Susan Nakazwe ; a woman was expelled from her party for taking part in a Presidential parade to welcome the Chinese President that was forbidden by the opposition party she belonged to
Updates to expose the gender implications of losing the mayor in the position where sent out across the country through the mobile. SMSs where also sent to her to giver her comfort
The Female mayor lost her position but is aware of the support rendered to her.
Firing of the minister of Health
The Female Minister of health Angela Cifire was fired from her post in mid 2007.
SMSs to Angela Cifire where sent to give her encouragement and advocacy messages for reinstatement where sent across the country
She was reinstated as minister but in the different portfolio of Deputy minister of Sport
The Arranged marriage of a UNZA Student
There is currently a case in the High Court of Zambia where a University of Zambia student is being forced it marriage to an older man residing in Somalia by her parents
Updates on court hearings are sent to inform supporters to turn up in numbers to give support to the Female student who has been shunned by her family
The Student has won the support of many Zambians and her case is public knowledge
The constitutional making process
The process of developing and adopting a constitutional making process is underway in Zambia
The process of adopting a constitution in Zambia Is currently a contentious one with parties arguing on the mode of adoption. SMSs sent to networks on the issue largely give reasons for the best modes of adoption and implications of bad constitutions
The Process is currently underway
· Mobile Services i.e. The Internet, MMS and Radio Integrated into the Mobile Phone Service system in Zambia provide access to ICT services across the broad spectrum of Zambian women beyond Telephone (voice) Communication
A broad spectrum of Women is within reach of other ICT Services through their mobile phones, this includes rural communities. However access to services is not a prerequisite to utilization as Zambian women continue to face the challenge of illiteracy, and low incomes. Note that services while in reach require subscribers to pay for utilization, the charges for convenient utilization remain limiting for most Zambians.
‘Leap frogging’ is the description given to the phenomenal effect of innovations that come with the mobile Cellular phone. As Zambia is a late adapter of ICT, regulatory frameworks are still incongruent with demands of the rapidly changing communications landscape and do not provide adequate room for advancement of innovations. Mobile Cellular Phones are providing multi access to ICT with combination of voice and data services combined and accessed through the handset. All regions of the country are within reach of the service and the communities which had previously no fixed line Telephone infrastructure have leapfrogged to accessing internet, MMS and mobile Telephony Sinha.
Universal access to Communications infrastructure like never before looks achievable. The digital divide is reducing as greater access is becoming achievable.
· The poorer the Community, the higher the use of the Mobile Cellular Phone to meet Communication Needs: Mobile Cellular Phone Communication is more a method of Communication for poor communities than economically stable ones.
Women in poor communities most often have no other choice of communication beyond the Mobile Cellular Phone as infrastructure is absent there. These communities develop coping strategies on how to utilize the mobile Cellular Phone around the limitations of costs of doing so.
Sinha points out that although traditional trends explain the development of the fixed line system, the case for mobile phones is different. Research has found that the higher the level of income inequality, the more likely individuals in such areas will own a mobile phone. One of the reasons is the payment model of the mobile phone that can be described as an ownership model.
Belonging to a single person, it will be shared informally in the community due to a strong culture of sharing among women’s communities (Mato Shimabale Celtel) replicating the access effect as access is spread out across a spectrum of individuals. Actual statistics can be misleading due to this fact. It enforces a collectivist sense.
However, The research found that the value of the mobile is only as good as the content for which it is used in the community. “The Cell Phone is a highway” (Bob Wang ZTE). Individuals determines the general direction in which to direct its use. In poor communities, the mobile phone can be reduced to a mare status symbol and entrap the user into spending valuable resources to sustain communication through it, crippling, it will drastically reduce disposable income to other developmental activities. In the words of Leah Mitaba Communications specialist at NGOCC ; “I spent more on my Mobile last month than I do for my children’s School fees. After I found out, I wondered how I could have spent so much on the mobile Phone, I almost threw it away!” But even after her realization, she still holds on to the Tool. Her combined value for it deems to override her misgivings. Very suggestive of an addiction.
· The Presence of the Mobile Cellular Phone stimulates gender based conflicts in Zambian Communities.
It remains largely difficult to establish whether the utilization of the mobile phone is a source of domestic conflict and gender based conflict. However, the frequency of cases where Gender based conflicts has occurred and the mobile Cellular Phone was cited as a contributing factor suggests adequate merit for investigation. The Socialization of Zambians based on deep cultural, traditional and religious grounds brings to the fore the principle that married couples are one. This principle contradicts the customized nature of the mobile phone that presents it as a personal and private property owned by its user. In a home where a couple each own a mobile phone, the boundary of ownership is often crossed out of both curiosity and suspicion on whom the other partner is communicating with. At this moment, conflict arises and the consequences in the extreme include gender based violence, divorce etc. Organisations like the NGOCC are faced with the challenge of understanding the phenomenon and defining an approach to tackle conflicts.
In the book is multiculturalism bad for women? Saskia Hassen in an essay titled Culture beyond gender tackles culture. She describes Group rights as Cultural rights and stresses that group rights are considered a way of protecting the importance of culture. In this context, we observe that the rights of the individual woman user may contradict the principle of the cultural principle that women and men are one. Saskia insists that it is difficult for women to exercise their individual sense of self, and richness of experience/norms/rituals in most cultures where women are disempowered. It is this sense of self that is in conflict with the cultural demand for women’s subordination and yields the gender based conflict. Where the conflict occurs and affects women, it is most often the case that the woman sacrifices the group rights in favor of individual rights even at the cost of peace. But peace is not only the sole absence of physical conflict. In describing Peace Justin Kilcullen in Development of peoples 2007 contends that Development is the new name for peace, that development cannot only be limited to mere economic growth; and that to be authentic it must promote the good of every person and of the whole person. Current conflicts expose women’s resistance to cultural restrictions towards achieving the kind of peace or wholeness that is development. In effect, the mobile phone presents itself as a culturally revolutionizing tool. Organisations like the NGOCC can utilize the current conflicts to stimulate awareness on tolerance for women’s progress for a greater political awareness.
Main Conclusions
The research process revealed that Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia. The following findings provide an initial outlook of the Zambian Mobile communications landscape;
· There is no compilation of Gender Disaggregated data on Mobile Cellular Phone use in Zambia.
· Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests as the Mobile Cellular Phone becomes the most commonly used Telephone communication tool in Zambia.
· Mobile Services i.e. The Internet, MMS and Radio Integrated into the Mobile Phone Service system in Zambia provide access to ICT services across the broad spectrum of Zambian women beyond Telephone (voice) Communication
· The poorer the Community, the higher the use of the Mobile Cellular Phone to meet Communication Needs: Mobile Cellular Phone Communication is more a method of Communication for poor communities than economically stable ones.
· The Presence of the Mobile Cellular Phone stimulates gender based conflicts in Zambian Communities.
As a tool it can be used to alleviate or enforce the negative cultural and historical discrimination of women. It is an opportunity for the creation of a reality that women want to see. The content created through it must be beneficial to women, it must be created and determined by women.
It can present women as equals over the network with men who in face to face interaction would be a source of intimidation, if viewed as a communication platform that cuts across the boundaries of culture and sidesteps bureaucracies.
Mobile cellular phone service providers, policy makers and gender activists can be included in the work towards women’s emancipation. They determine the political will that can insure positive access of women to ICT through ‘leap frogging’ for the benefit of greater access and closing the digital gap. It is a tool for the creation of political awareness, and breaks the hierarchical pattern of technological diffusion
Women can network through it and mobilise for their own increased economic empowerment and collective voice within the political system as a means towards ending institutionalised gender discrimination.
Actions
REDUCE COSTS RELATED TO USE
exploitative costing cripples users and reduces disposable incomes. Government policy intervention could reduce taxes that influence cost and where in merit, as in the European Union Roaming charge intervention[2], tone down exploitative costing frameworks
MOBILIZE WOMEN AND CREATE MOBILE COMMUNITIES
From examples of effective Mobile Phone enhanced mobilization, it is clear that formalization of mobile communities would add to effectiveness of this method of advocacy. networks like the NGOCC can include expenditure for mobile Cellular Phone advocacy into the program and advocacy budgets. They can work towards creating beneficial ways for inclusion of women of all walks of life into these communities i.e. Women with Disabilities.
ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN SPECIFIC SERVICES
Currently there are services integrated by the service providers for groups like farmers, business etc where users can access commodity prices, and flight schedules at a limited cost. For women’s advocacy, information on what to do in times of abuse, maternal health notes and definitions of women’s disempowerment situations can also be posted for free access to users.
TRADE IN MOBILE CELLULAR PHONES AND MOVE BEYOND MARE USE TO PROVISION
As opposed to being mare users, Women’s groups can evolve to being communication hubs in their communities by trading in the Mobile Communication services. This provides opportunity to shift to a position of influence in the community and they can quickly also become Economic nodes (Sinha)
INCREASE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON THE POTENTIAL RISKS RELATED TO CELL USE
Mobile Phone base stations are a hazard to the health of communities residing in close proximity to them (WHO IEGMP 2000) Generally a contentious issue, Mobile Phone triggered radiation poses a potential risk to users[3]. While many researches have shown the unlikelihood of this being a fact, and point out at the stringent measures mobile phones meet before passing for human use (WHO IEGMP 2000), little research accounts for modified, recycled, outdated and broken down mobile phones that are largely used by women in poor communities who cannot afford to purchase new quality approved handsets.
Because of this general concern, further research needs to be done on the implications on health. And policy intervention to Increase regulation that monitors quality requirements of the tools being used is imperative.
Other work needs to be done on enhancing on knowledge of how economically disempowering ineffective use of the Mobile Phone can be and the cumulative effect of potential pollution as a result of the build up of mobile phones in developing countries like Zambia.
Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia but this is largely dependent on how women choose to utilize the tool.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The GRACE Zambia Research was a real learning experience on the uncanvassed terrain of ICT and women in Zambia. My interaction with the various groups through the process proved to be an invaluable self-development and improvement experience. I would love to believe that the questioning process that was the interaction between myself, and respondents from the various sectors proved mutually beneficial. I wish to thank the IDRC for their overall support of the GRACE Africa Project and more specifically Heloise Emdon for her encouragement. The GRACE Africa Research team (Graciousnesses) were a consistent motivation in my research journey and I felt like a string in the fine cord. I wish to acknowledge Ineke Buskens for her confidence in me, and Anne webb for being a backbone in my jelly research journey and webbing me in.
I wish to thank my family for their moral support, Sara Longwe Roy Clarke Jenah Daka and Grace Bwalya for being my consistent pillars of strength and understanding my choices.
The research respondents where invaluable and I wish to thank them for taking their time off busy schedules to attend to me. Mato Shimabale Strategic Marketing Manager at Celtel Zambia, Bob Wang at ZTE, Charles Kaile Data clerk MMD Secretariat, Kiato Biemba Mobiliser MMD Secretariat, Felix Mwansa Research and publications MMD Secretariat, Mr. Daka Assistant Personnel Manager Zamtel, Susan Chilala Zambia Council for Social Development Zambia Association for Research and Development ZARD, Priscilla Mpundu former Past Executive Director ZARD, Susan Mwape CSO APRM Zambia, Priscilla Jere Oneworld, Leah Mitaba NGOCC, The NGOCC Secretariat and Zambia Competitions Commission ZCC.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Against Neoliberalism: Gender, Democracy and Development Chachage,Chachage and Mbilinyi 2005)
Beijing +10 shadow report on the situation of women in Zambia (NGOCC 2004)
Beyond God the Father toward a philosophy of women’s liberation(Daly 1985)
Do Mobiles cost the Earth? (Kives BBC : http:www.bbc.co.uk/z/hi/science/nature/6174422.stm)
Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities (Sinha 2005)
Electromagnetic Fields and public health: Mobile telephones and their base stations (WHO IEGMP 2000: HTTP://www.who.int/mediacentre/facsheets/fs1923/en/pnt.html)
Fine lines or Strong cords? Who do we think we are and who do we think we can become in the quest for quality in Qualitative Research (Buskens 2001)
Handbook of media laws in Zambia (Chanda and Liswaniso 1999)
Informal economy fighting poverty in Zambian Markets ()
Is Multiculturalism bad for women? (Okin)
My views on the news! The southern African Gender and Media Udience Study (Morna, Ramaand Muriungi 2005)
National Communication and information Technology Policy (Zambia 2006)
Power and self (Mageo 2002)
The Development of peoples. Challenges for today and tomorrow essays to mark the Fortieth Anniversary of Populorum Progressio (2007)
We make the road by walking, conversations on education and social Change (Horton and Freire 1990)
[1] According to the NGOCC report on the status of women 2004, five priority areas in Zambia for the advancement of women include;
· The persistent and growing burden of poverty on women and their unequal access to resources and participation in economic structure and policies;
· Inequality in access to and opportunities in education, skills development and training;
· Women’s unequal access to health and related services;
· Inequality between women and men in the sharing of Power and decision making; and
· The rights of the girl child
[2] www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/idselect/iducom/79/791.pdf
[3] http://new.independent.co.uk/sci-tech/article3353768.ece
80% of the total population of Zambians in Zambia is considered impoverished and live on less than a dollar a day, the majority being Women. The country is ranked 166th out of 177 in the 2003 UN Human Development Index where 1 is the wealthiest and 177 counts for the most impoverished. Over a third of the population is not formally employed and survives on small scale trading and street vending. The extreme conditions in the country have warranted the emergence of Civil Society Organizations like the Non Governmental Organization Coordinating Council (NGOCC) to assist the government in mitigating the Social development needs of the country. Most of these organizations place women’s empowerment first on their agenda. According to the NGOCC report on the status of women 2004, five priority areas in Zambia for the Advancement of women include;
· The persistent and growing burden of poverty on women and their unequal access to resources and participation in economic structure and policies;
· Inequality in access to and opportunities in education, skills development and training;
· Women’s unequal access to health and related services;
· Inequality between women and men in the sharing of Power and decision making; and
· The rights of the girl child
To coordinate efforts with Organizations that form its membership, the NGOCC has formed Communication Networks to share and collect information. It utilizes Information Communication Technology (ICT) strategies such as Email, Radio and recently the Mobile Cellular Phone for communication. The Mobile Cellular Phone has emerged as a convenient approach for communication due to its properties as a technology that can be utilized in remote areas where infrastructure for conventional fixed line Telephone communication does not exist. Generally convenient for advocacy purposes as opposed to the fixed line Telephone, the mobile phone is currently the most utilized Telephony system in the country accounting for about 2,000,000 subscribers in 2008 with indicators showing a doubling of subscribers since 2006. Most Communications infrastructure development is concentrated along the line of rail owing to Mobile Cellular Phones being the best communication option for Women’s empowerment Networks in outlying areas where poverty has become extensive.
The limitations to the Women’s Empowerment Networks and women in general in utilizing the Mobile Cellular Phones effectively have become obstructions to progress. The cost of purchasing and maintaining the Mobile Cellular Phone handset for receiving and making calls, the connection costs to the Service providers, the many unanswered questions on the unknown negative health effects related to using the mobile Cellular Phone, the potential for the mobile phone’s contribution to pollution, the unavailability of electricity infrastructure in disadvantaged communities or cost of access to electricity (Mobile Pones need constant battery charging), the belief that it enforces promiscuity and lies, and the exorbitant tariffs attached to making calls. Due to its relative newness on the Zambian scene and the Zambian Civil Society context, effective uses of the tool are emerging.
In light of the challenges met by the Zambian Women’s networks to utilize the mobile phone more effectively in their work to empower Zambian women, the following questions emerge;
· How can Women’s Networks in Zambia like the NGOCC network create beneficial networks with other women and women’s networks to form mutually beneficial alliances to achieve the five priority areas for women’s empowerment in Zambia[1]?
· What needs to be done in order to make the mobile phone more accessible and beneficial to women in Zambia?
· What do women need to know in order for them to make wiser decisions on whether they should use the mobile phone for their communication?
· To what extent can Women’s Empowerment through the achievement of the five priority areas be achievable with the use of the mobile Cellular phone?
The Research objective was to establish how members of the NGOCC Women’s Network in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women. The research was carried out in Lusaka the capital city of Zambia over a period of one year. Qualitative Research methods where utilized. The Research process identified respondents and structured the group in two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ.
The research process revealed that Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The Research process identified respondents by structurally interviewing key stake holders in the process of service provision. The structure involves two classifications as follows;
1. Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
2. Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. They give detailed personal accounts of how they use the Mobile Cellular phone as a tool for communication both in their lives and collectively within networks; their insights shed light on the personal experiences that characterize women in this group. The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ. Through this group, technical insight in the systems of service delivery and the possibilities for change both possible and intentioned was collected.
Throughout the research process, a participatory process with respondents was utilized based on acceptance of the understanding that Social innovations succeed when social sectors play a role and intentionality of women users is complex and undeterminable; Only the general sense indicating patterns was considered through a rigorous process informed by a selection of Qualitative research methods that encompass the general GRACE Research methodology process. These methods include;
· The Free Attitude interview
· Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis(Exercising a reflective stance)
· Literature Reviews
The respondents where active participants in the research process and they gave their consent and endorsement of the research process.
REVELATIONS
The research process revealed that Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia.
To establish how members of the NGOCC Women’s Network in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women, the research found;
· There is no compilation of Gender Disaggregated data on Mobile Cellular Phone use in Zambia.
Women’s Organisations that have been involved in work on women’s empowerment are usually incapacitated to carry out Research and often do not have documented records in terms of the relationship between women’s empowerment and ICTs like Mobile Phones.
The absence of disaggregated data makes it difficult for effective tracking of Women’s access and use of the Mobile Cellular phone. The opportunity to improve the general effects of the tool in women’s communication through service delivery is severely limited as a result. Other than the absence of disaggregated data, whose absence is indication of a lack of policy interest, general research on mobile phones in relation to women’s empowerment still remains scant to non existent.
· Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests as the Mobile Cellular Phone becomes the most commonly used Telephone communication tool in Zambia.
Women who own mobile Phones communicate with other women as well as men. Un-moderated and free content developed as they communicate consists of common interest issues; free content and support across a wide range of needs is being rendered across these communities from monetary exchange, information exchange and basic sharing of experiences. Cultural relations are evolving as physical ties are being replaced with ‘electronic ones’.
· Mobile Services i.e. The Internet, MMS and Radio Integrated into the Mobile Phone Service system in Zambia provide access to ICT services across the broad spectrum of Zambian women beyond Telephone (voice) Communication
A broad spectrum of Women is within reach of other ICT Services through their mobile phones, this includes rural communities. However access to services is not a prerequisite to utilization as Zambian women continue to face the challenge of illiteracy, and low incomes. Note that services while in reach require subscribers to pay for utilization, the charges for convenient utilization remain limiting for most Zambians.
· The poorer the Community, the higher the use of the Mobile Cellular Phone to meet Communication Needs: Mobile Cellular Phone Communication is more a method of Communication for poor communities than economically stable ones.
Women in poor communities most often have no other choice of communication beyond the Mobile Cellular Phone as infrastructure is absent there. These communities develop coping strategies on how to utilize the mobile Cellular Phone around the limitations of costs of doing so.
· The Presence of the Mobile Cellular Phone stimulates gender based conflicts in Zambian Communities.
It remains largely difficult to establish whether the utilization of the mobile phone is a source of domestic conflict and gender based conflict. However, the frequency of cases where Gender based conflicts has occurred and the mobile Cellular Phone was cited as a contributing factor suggests adequate merit for investigation. The Socialization of Zambians based on deep cultural, traditional and religious grounds brings to the fore the principle that married couples are one. This principle contradicts the customized nature of the mobile phone that presents it as a personal and private property owned by its user. In a home where a couple each own a mobile phone, the boundary of ownership is often crossed out of both curiosity and suspicion on whom the other partner is communicating with. At this moment, conflict arises and the consequences in the extreme include gender based violence, divorce etc.
DISCUSSION
Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia. The Research to establish how members of the NGOCC Women’s Networks in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women was carried out in Lusaka over a one year period. The core respondent base was informed by 5 women leaders who are members of the NGOCC Network.
Assessment
· There is no compilation of Gender Disaggregated data on Mobile Cellular Phone use in Zambia.
Women’s Organisations that have been involved in work on women’s empowerment are usually incapacitated to carry out Research and often do not have documented records in terms of the relationship between women’s empowerment and ICTs like Mobile Phones.
The absence of disaggregated data makes it difficult for effective tracking of Women’s access and use of the Mobile Cellular phone. The opportunity to improve the general effects of the tool in women’s communication through service delivery is severely limited as a result. Other than the absence of disaggregated data, whose absence is indication of a lack of policy interest, general research on mobile phones in relation to women’s empowerment still remains scant to non existent.
The culture of institutional memory retention is poor. Officers tend to keep information in their private custody and after they leave office it vanishes with them. NGOCC Report.
The media laws of the country are the basis for the impediments to easy information access in public service institutions (Chanda, Liswaniso). Bureaucracy must be followed at all times.
The media largely remains a source of information on a wide spectrum of issues including information on gender. However it is mostly Skewed towards portraying women negatively. Many institutions are working to reform it. It is the chief source of the narrative of women’s oppression. (My views on the news! Morna, Ramaand Muriungi 2005)
NGOCC is working to develop a data bank on women’s status through its information resource center. There is a general absence of such measures across the board.
· Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests as the Mobile Cellular Phone becomes the most commonly used Telephone communication tool in Zambia.
Women who own mobile Phones communicate with other women as well as men. Un-moderated and free content developed as they communicate consists of common interest issues; free content and support across a wide range of needs is being rendered across these communities from monetary exchange, information exchange and basic sharing of experiences. Cultural relations are evolving as physical ties are being replaced with ‘electronic ones’. The NGOCC secretariat would rather call members’ mobile phones than fixed office lines because mobile phones surpass the bureaucracy and there is a guarantee of communicating with the desired subject.
To better visualize the concept of Mobile Communities created by the body of women users of the Mobile phone who are affiliated to the NGOCC network, we can hold the image of communities. Each community is configured when contact on a matter of common interest is initiated. Every individual user determines the configuration of participants in their own matter of interest and they play a leading role in determining the content produced through discussions.
As Chaitali Sinha puts it, in the paper ‘Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities’, A way to describe the value of networking on the mobile phone is the principle of Social Capital. In the paper, what is made clear is the fact that because of the circumstances of the poor, power and resources are achieved through collective efforts. Further, the Theory of Social Capital can be applied in showing the nature and extent to which social interaction between communities and institutions shape economic performance.
Beyond it’s individual members, organizations like the NGOCC have immeasurable potential through Social groups. Social Networks are the structural element s that it has utilized in achieving the vast changes towards women’s progress not only within its immediate organizational environment but also Nationwide.
While pointing out that communities can be created through exchanges of voice and data via mobile Phone, a major factor to consider is Money.
Only Women with talk-time (Call units) will be privileged members of the mobile community, with the ability to initiate conversation and having the power of choice of when to communicate. Those with no call units may be included at the discretion of those who do. This can present negative effects of such networking and exacerbate inequalities if not rectified. Beeping and the SMS are coping methods in situations where users want to avoid costs as they are almost free. Network members can beep the institution and the institution will call them back, this practice is widespread across the spectrum of users.
Formal institutions like the NGOCC are slow to adapt to the requirements of maintaining mobile communication networks. It supports members who face economic hardships by calling them to alert them on developments. Such members most often depend on a communal Mobile phone. In most cases, a person with a mobile phone becomes a communication hub for the community and they relay information establishing themselves as a community economical hub.
The advocacy department of the NGOCC does not incentivize to provide for mobile communication expenditure of officers.
Social Capital is created on the NGOCC network as members of mobile communities communicate freely, from any location across unlimited geographical locations in Zambia. Sinha argues that these phone calls reinforce social networks and in turn generate social capital. For the NGOCC this sort of capital is a prerequisite to policy influence and successful advocacy.
As is evident in the following cases where the mobile Cellular Phone was used for advocacy;
Case
Context
Action taken through the Mobile Cellular Phone
Result
Elections monitoring
During the 2006 General elections, the NGOCC networks campaigned for women by communicating women candidates to vote for
Alerts to the membership during campaigns where sent via sms and during counting of ballots, updates on who was winning where sent on the minute. This was never before seen in the closely contested election as fears of indiscriminate vote rigging where largely dispelled as a result
There is currently the largest number of women in Government and parliament than ever before.
Firing of the mayor
In early 2007, the mayor of Lusaka Susan Nakazwe ; a woman was expelled from her party for taking part in a Presidential parade to welcome the Chinese President that was forbidden by the opposition party she belonged to
Updates to expose the gender implications of losing the mayor in the position where sent out across the country through the mobile. SMSs where also sent to her to giver her comfort
The Female mayor lost her position but is aware of the support rendered to her.
Firing of the minister of Health
The Female Minister of health Angela Cifire was fired from her post in mid 2007.
SMSs to Angela Cifire where sent to give her encouragement and advocacy messages for reinstatement where sent across the country
She was reinstated as minister but in the different portfolio of Deputy minister of Sport
The Arranged marriage of a UNZA Student
There is currently a case in the High Court of Zambia where a University of Zambia student is being forced it marriage to an older man residing in Somalia by her parents
Updates on court hearings are sent to inform supporters to turn up in numbers to give support to the Female student who has been shunned by her family
The Student has won the support of many Zambians and her case is public knowledge
The constitutional making process
The process of developing and adopting a constitutional making process is underway in Zambia
The process of adopting a constitution in Zambia Is currently a contentious one with parties arguing on the mode of adoption. SMSs sent to networks on the issue largely give reasons for the best modes of adoption and implications of bad constitutions
The Process is currently underway
· Mobile Services i.e. The Internet, MMS and Radio Integrated into the Mobile Phone Service system in Zambia provide access to ICT services across the broad spectrum of Zambian women beyond Telephone (voice) Communication
A broad spectrum of Women is within reach of other ICT Services through their mobile phones, this includes rural communities. However access to services is not a prerequisite to utilization as Zambian women continue to face the challenge of illiteracy, and low incomes. Note that services while in reach require subscribers to pay for utilization, the charges for convenient utilization remain limiting for most Zambians.
‘Leap frogging’ is the description given to the phenomenal effect of innovations that come with the mobile Cellular phone. As Zambia is a late adapter of ICT, regulatory frameworks are still incongruent with demands of the rapidly changing communications landscape and do not provide adequate room for advancement of innovations. Mobile Cellular Phones are providing multi access to ICT with combination of voice and data services combined and accessed through the handset. All regions of the country are within reach of the service and the communities which had previously no fixed line Telephone infrastructure have leapfrogged to accessing internet, MMS and mobile Telephony Sinha.
Universal access to Communications infrastructure like never before looks achievable. The digital divide is reducing as greater access is becoming achievable.
· The poorer the Community, the higher the use of the Mobile Cellular Phone to meet Communication Needs: Mobile Cellular Phone Communication is more a method of Communication for poor communities than economically stable ones.
Women in poor communities most often have no other choice of communication beyond the Mobile Cellular Phone as infrastructure is absent there. These communities develop coping strategies on how to utilize the mobile Cellular Phone around the limitations of costs of doing so.
Sinha points out that although traditional trends explain the development of the fixed line system, the case for mobile phones is different. Research has found that the higher the level of income inequality, the more likely individuals in such areas will own a mobile phone. One of the reasons is the payment model of the mobile phone that can be described as an ownership model.
Belonging to a single person, it will be shared informally in the community due to a strong culture of sharing among women’s communities (Mato Shimabale Celtel) replicating the access effect as access is spread out across a spectrum of individuals. Actual statistics can be misleading due to this fact. It enforces a collectivist sense.
However, The research found that the value of the mobile is only as good as the content for which it is used in the community. “The Cell Phone is a highway” (Bob Wang ZTE). Individuals determines the general direction in which to direct its use. In poor communities, the mobile phone can be reduced to a mare status symbol and entrap the user into spending valuable resources to sustain communication through it, crippling, it will drastically reduce disposable income to other developmental activities. In the words of Leah Mitaba Communications specialist at NGOCC ; “I spent more on my Mobile last month than I do for my children’s School fees. After I found out, I wondered how I could have spent so much on the mobile Phone, I almost threw it away!” But even after her realization, she still holds on to the Tool. Her combined value for it deems to override her misgivings. Very suggestive of an addiction.
· The Presence of the Mobile Cellular Phone stimulates gender based conflicts in Zambian Communities.
It remains largely difficult to establish whether the utilization of the mobile phone is a source of domestic conflict and gender based conflict. However, the frequency of cases where Gender based conflicts has occurred and the mobile Cellular Phone was cited as a contributing factor suggests adequate merit for investigation. The Socialization of Zambians based on deep cultural, traditional and religious grounds brings to the fore the principle that married couples are one. This principle contradicts the customized nature of the mobile phone that presents it as a personal and private property owned by its user. In a home where a couple each own a mobile phone, the boundary of ownership is often crossed out of both curiosity and suspicion on whom the other partner is communicating with. At this moment, conflict arises and the consequences in the extreme include gender based violence, divorce etc. Organisations like the NGOCC are faced with the challenge of understanding the phenomenon and defining an approach to tackle conflicts.
In the book is multiculturalism bad for women? Saskia Hassen in an essay titled Culture beyond gender tackles culture. She describes Group rights as Cultural rights and stresses that group rights are considered a way of protecting the importance of culture. In this context, we observe that the rights of the individual woman user may contradict the principle of the cultural principle that women and men are one. Saskia insists that it is difficult for women to exercise their individual sense of self, and richness of experience/norms/rituals in most cultures where women are disempowered. It is this sense of self that is in conflict with the cultural demand for women’s subordination and yields the gender based conflict. Where the conflict occurs and affects women, it is most often the case that the woman sacrifices the group rights in favor of individual rights even at the cost of peace. But peace is not only the sole absence of physical conflict. In describing Peace Justin Kilcullen in Development of peoples 2007 contends that Development is the new name for peace, that development cannot only be limited to mere economic growth; and that to be authentic it must promote the good of every person and of the whole person. Current conflicts expose women’s resistance to cultural restrictions towards achieving the kind of peace or wholeness that is development. In effect, the mobile phone presents itself as a culturally revolutionizing tool. Organisations like the NGOCC can utilize the current conflicts to stimulate awareness on tolerance for women’s progress for a greater political awareness.
Main Conclusions
The research process revealed that Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia. The following findings provide an initial outlook of the Zambian Mobile communications landscape;
· There is no compilation of Gender Disaggregated data on Mobile Cellular Phone use in Zambia.
· Women’s Mobile Communities are forming around Networks sustained by the use of Mobile Cellular Phones along varied common interests as the Mobile Cellular Phone becomes the most commonly used Telephone communication tool in Zambia.
· Mobile Services i.e. The Internet, MMS and Radio Integrated into the Mobile Phone Service system in Zambia provide access to ICT services across the broad spectrum of Zambian women beyond Telephone (voice) Communication
· The poorer the Community, the higher the use of the Mobile Cellular Phone to meet Communication Needs: Mobile Cellular Phone Communication is more a method of Communication for poor communities than economically stable ones.
· The Presence of the Mobile Cellular Phone stimulates gender based conflicts in Zambian Communities.
As a tool it can be used to alleviate or enforce the negative cultural and historical discrimination of women. It is an opportunity for the creation of a reality that women want to see. The content created through it must be beneficial to women, it must be created and determined by women.
It can present women as equals over the network with men who in face to face interaction would be a source of intimidation, if viewed as a communication platform that cuts across the boundaries of culture and sidesteps bureaucracies.
Mobile cellular phone service providers, policy makers and gender activists can be included in the work towards women’s emancipation. They determine the political will that can insure positive access of women to ICT through ‘leap frogging’ for the benefit of greater access and closing the digital gap. It is a tool for the creation of political awareness, and breaks the hierarchical pattern of technological diffusion
Women can network through it and mobilise for their own increased economic empowerment and collective voice within the political system as a means towards ending institutionalised gender discrimination.
Actions
REDUCE COSTS RELATED TO USE
exploitative costing cripples users and reduces disposable incomes. Government policy intervention could reduce taxes that influence cost and where in merit, as in the European Union Roaming charge intervention[2], tone down exploitative costing frameworks
MOBILIZE WOMEN AND CREATE MOBILE COMMUNITIES
From examples of effective Mobile Phone enhanced mobilization, it is clear that formalization of mobile communities would add to effectiveness of this method of advocacy. networks like the NGOCC can include expenditure for mobile Cellular Phone advocacy into the program and advocacy budgets. They can work towards creating beneficial ways for inclusion of women of all walks of life into these communities i.e. Women with Disabilities.
ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN SPECIFIC SERVICES
Currently there are services integrated by the service providers for groups like farmers, business etc where users can access commodity prices, and flight schedules at a limited cost. For women’s advocacy, information on what to do in times of abuse, maternal health notes and definitions of women’s disempowerment situations can also be posted for free access to users.
TRADE IN MOBILE CELLULAR PHONES AND MOVE BEYOND MARE USE TO PROVISION
As opposed to being mare users, Women’s groups can evolve to being communication hubs in their communities by trading in the Mobile Communication services. This provides opportunity to shift to a position of influence in the community and they can quickly also become Economic nodes (Sinha)
INCREASE EDUCATION PROGRAMS ON THE POTENTIAL RISKS RELATED TO CELL USE
Mobile Phone base stations are a hazard to the health of communities residing in close proximity to them (WHO IEGMP 2000) Generally a contentious issue, Mobile Phone triggered radiation poses a potential risk to users[3]. While many researches have shown the unlikelihood of this being a fact, and point out at the stringent measures mobile phones meet before passing for human use (WHO IEGMP 2000), little research accounts for modified, recycled, outdated and broken down mobile phones that are largely used by women in poor communities who cannot afford to purchase new quality approved handsets.
Because of this general concern, further research needs to be done on the implications on health. And policy intervention to Increase regulation that monitors quality requirements of the tools being used is imperative.
Other work needs to be done on enhancing on knowledge of how economically disempowering ineffective use of the Mobile Phone can be and the cumulative effect of potential pollution as a result of the build up of mobile phones in developing countries like Zambia.
Women’s Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women’s Empowerment Organisations in Zambia but this is largely dependent on how women choose to utilize the tool.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The GRACE Zambia Research was a real learning experience on the uncanvassed terrain of ICT and women in Zambia. My interaction with the various groups through the process proved to be an invaluable self-development and improvement experience. I would love to believe that the questioning process that was the interaction between myself, and respondents from the various sectors proved mutually beneficial. I wish to thank the IDRC for their overall support of the GRACE Africa Project and more specifically Heloise Emdon for her encouragement. The GRACE Africa Research team (Graciousnesses) were a consistent motivation in my research journey and I felt like a string in the fine cord. I wish to acknowledge Ineke Buskens for her confidence in me, and Anne webb for being a backbone in my jelly research journey and webbing me in.
I wish to thank my family for their moral support, Sara Longwe Roy Clarke Jenah Daka and Grace Bwalya for being my consistent pillars of strength and understanding my choices.
The research respondents where invaluable and I wish to thank them for taking their time off busy schedules to attend to me. Mato Shimabale Strategic Marketing Manager at Celtel Zambia, Bob Wang at ZTE, Charles Kaile Data clerk MMD Secretariat, Kiato Biemba Mobiliser MMD Secretariat, Felix Mwansa Research and publications MMD Secretariat, Mr. Daka Assistant Personnel Manager Zamtel, Susan Chilala Zambia Council for Social Development Zambia Association for Research and Development ZARD, Priscilla Mpundu former Past Executive Director ZARD, Susan Mwape CSO APRM Zambia, Priscilla Jere Oneworld, Leah Mitaba NGOCC, The NGOCC Secretariat and Zambia Competitions Commission ZCC.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Against Neoliberalism: Gender, Democracy and Development Chachage,Chachage and Mbilinyi 2005)
Beijing +10 shadow report on the situation of women in Zambia (NGOCC 2004)
Beyond God the Father toward a philosophy of women’s liberation(Daly 1985)
Do Mobiles cost the Earth? (Kives BBC : http:www.bbc.co.uk/z/hi/science/nature/6174422.stm)
Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities (Sinha 2005)
Electromagnetic Fields and public health: Mobile telephones and their base stations (WHO IEGMP 2000: HTTP://www.who.int/mediacentre/facsheets/fs1923/en/pnt.html)
Fine lines or Strong cords? Who do we think we are and who do we think we can become in the quest for quality in Qualitative Research (Buskens 2001)
Handbook of media laws in Zambia (Chanda and Liswaniso 1999)
Informal economy fighting poverty in Zambian Markets ()
Is Multiculturalism bad for women? (Okin)
My views on the news! The southern African Gender and Media Udience Study (Morna, Ramaand Muriungi 2005)
National Communication and information Technology Policy (Zambia 2006)
Power and self (Mageo 2002)
The Development of peoples. Challenges for today and tomorrow essays to mark the Fortieth Anniversary of Populorum Progressio (2007)
We make the road by walking, conversations on education and social Change (Horton and Freire 1990)
[1] According to the NGOCC report on the status of women 2004, five priority areas in Zambia for the advancement of women include;
· The persistent and growing burden of poverty on women and their unequal access to resources and participation in economic structure and policies;
· Inequality in access to and opportunities in education, skills development and training;
· Women’s unequal access to health and related services;
· Inequality between women and men in the sharing of Power and decision making; and
· The rights of the girl child
[2] www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/idselect/iducom/79/791.pdf
[3] http://new.independent.co.uk/sci-tech/article3353768.ece
Monday, October 13, 2008
A Book is born!
To read the Complete Book visit the following link: http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-135944-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html#begining
Afican Women and lCTs explores the ways in which women in Africa utilize lCTs to facilitate
their empowerment;
whether through the mobile village phone business, through internet
use, or through new career and ICT employment opportunities.
Based on the outcome of an extensive research project, this timely book features chapters based on original primary field research undertaken by academics and activists who have investigated
situations within their own communities and countries. The discussion includes such issues as the notion of lCTs for empowerment and as agents of change, lCTs in the fight against gender-based
violence, and how lCTs could be used to re-conceptualize public and private spaces.
ICT policy is currently being made and implemented all overAfrica, but the authors argue
that this is happening mostly in the absence of clear knowledge about the ways gender
inequality and lCTs are impacting each other and that by becoming alert to a gender
dimension in ICT developments at an early stage of the information revolution, we may be
able to prevent greater scaled undesirable effects in the future.
1. Doing research with women about their lives - Ineke Buskens
PART 4: Creating New Spaces Through lCTs: Self determination
and influencing others
'17. Our journey to empowerment: The role of ICT - Ruth Meena and Mary Rusimbi
AfricanWomen and ICTs
Investigating Technology, Gender and Emp owerment
Edited by Ineke Buskens and Anne Webb
The revolution in information and communication technologies (lCTs) has vast implications
for the developing world, but what tangible benefits has it brought, when issues of social
inclusion and exclusion, particularly in the developing world, remain atlarge? In addition, the
gender digital divide is growing in the developing world, particularly in Africa. So what does
ICT mean toAfrican women?
Investigating Technology, Gender and Emp owerment
Edited by Ineke Buskens and Anne Webb
The revolution in information and communication technologies (lCTs) has vast implications
for the developing world, but what tangible benefits has it brought, when issues of social
inclusion and exclusion, particularly in the developing world, remain atlarge? In addition, the
gender digital divide is growing in the developing world, particularly in Africa. So what does
ICT mean toAfrican women?
Afican Women and lCTs explores the ways in which women in Africa utilize lCTs to facilitate
their empowerment;
whether through the mobile village phone business, through internet
use, or through new career and ICT employment opportunities.
Based on the outcome of an extensive research project, this timely book features chapters based on original primary field research undertaken by academics and activists who have investigated
situations within their own communities and countries. The discussion includes such issues as the notion of lCTs for empowerment and as agents of change, lCTs in the fight against gender-based
violence, and how lCTs could be used to re-conceptualize public and private spaces.
ICT policy is currently being made and implemented all overAfrica, but the authors argue
that this is happening mostly in the absence of clear knowledge about the ways gender
inequality and lCTs are impacting each other and that by becoming alert to a gender
dimension in ICT developments at an early stage of the information revolution, we may be
able to prevent greater scaled undesirable effects in the future.
Contents
Introduction
lneke Buskens
and Anne Webb
lneke Buskens
and Anne Webb
1. Doing research with women about their lives - Ineke Buskens
PART 1: Finding Oneself in ICT Space: acceptance
and use
and use
2. Women's use of information and communication technologies in Mozambique: A tool for empowerment? -Gertrudes Macueve, Judite Mandlate, Lucia Ginger, Polly Gaster and Esselina Macome
3. Considering ICT use when energy access is not secured:A case study from rural South Africa
- Jocelyn Muller
- Jocelyn Muller
4. Women's use of cell phones to meet their communication needs - A study of rural women from northern Nigeria - Kazanka Comfort and John Dada
PART 2: Female Only ICT Spaces: safety, self expression and sharing
5. Egyptian women artisans facing the demands of modern markets: Caught between a rock and a hard place - Leila Hassanin
6. When a gender-blind access policy results in discrimination: Realities and perceptions of female students at the University of Zimbabwe - Buhle Mbambo-Thata, Elizabeth Mlambo, Precious Mwatsiya
7. Using lCTs to act on hope and commitment: The fight against gender violence in Morocco -
Amina Tafnout and Aatifa Timjerdine
Amina Tafnout and Aatifa Timjerdine
8. An alternative public space for women: The potentiaf of lCTs - Leila Hassanin
PART 3: Using ICT SpacesActively, Effectively and Creatively
9. Mobile phones in a time of modernity: The quest for increased self-sufficiency amongst women fishmonger and fish processors in Dakar - lbou Sane and Mamadou Balla Traore, Senegal
11. Women entrepreneurs in Nairobi: Examining and contextualizing women's choices -
Alice Wanjira Munyua
10. The names in your address book: Are mobile phone networks effective
in advocating for women's rights in Zambia?
-Kiss Brian Abraham
11. Women entrepreneurs in Nairobi: Examining and contextualizing women's choices -
Alice Wanjira Munyua
12. Internet use and empowerment of women entrepreneurs of the textile sector in Douala
- Gisele Yitamben and Hise Tchinda
- Gisele Yitamben and Hise Tchinda
13. lCTs as an agent of change: A case of grassroots women entrepreneurs in Uganda - Susan Bakesha, Angela Nakafeero and Dorothy
Okello
Okello
14. The mobile pay phone business: A vehicle for rural women's empowerment in Uganda - Grace Bantebya-Kyomuhendo
PART 4: Creating New Spaces Through lCTs: Self determination
and influencing others
15. Professional women empowered to succeed in Kenya's ICT sector - Okwach Abagi, Olive Sifuna, Salome Awuor Omamo
16. Reflections on the mentoring experiences of ICT career women in Nairobi, Kenya: Looking in the mirror - Salome Awuor Omamo
'17. Our journey to empowerment: The role of ICT - Ruth Meena and Mary Rusimbi
18. Epilogue: From a woman's place to
a woman's s Day -lneke Busken
a woman's s Day -lneke Busken
Thursday, February 7, 2008
CONFRONTING THE RESEARCH TERRAIN OF WOMEN’S USE OF ICT IN ZAMBIA
ABSTRACT
The process of research is one of constant learning and openness to new ideas and experiences. Through the research objective, the researcher interacts with the environment that embodies the research focus and establishes truths from the experience and becomes a part of the known truth. The GRACE Research Zambia Project was characterized by the following elements; Respondents, Object of Research and the Research methodology. These elements define the research terrain of the Zambia project. Overcoming the obstacles in the terrain yielded valuable lessons.
CONFRONTING THE RESEARCH TERRAIN OF WOMEN'S USE OF ICT IN ZAMBIA
Introduction
The process of research is one of constant learning and openness to new ideas and experiences. Through the research objective, the researcher interacts with the environment that embodies the research focus and establishes truths from the experience and becomes a part of the known truth. The conclusions or revelations of the research process are carved by the interaction between the researcher and the research environment.
GRACE Research Zambia Project Research process revealed that Women's Effective adaptation of the Mobile Cellular Phone for Progressive Communication can contribute to Enhancement of women and Women's Empowerment Organisations in Zambia. The Research objective was to establish how members of the NGOCC Women's Network in Zambia utilize Mobile Cellular Phone Services in their work to Advance the status of Zambian Women.
The GRACE Research Zambia Project Research process involved Qualitative Action Research methodologies
The Research process identified respondents and structured the group in two classifications as follows;
- Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
- Respondents with background information on the system of Mobile Cellular Phone Service provision.
The main body of the research findings is determined by the 1st classification which includes 5 women leaders of the NGOCC network from 5 separate NGOCC Member Organizations with separate mandates and a common interest in empowerment of women. This classification gives detailed personal accounts of how women in this sector use the Mobile Cellular phone as a tool for communication both in their lives and collectively within networks; their insights shed light on the personal experiences that characterize women in this group.
The second Classification mainly includes officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Provision Companies, the Competitions Commission of Zambia and an official from the National Communication Regulation body the Communications Authority of Zambia CAZ. This classification mainly gives technical insight in the systems of service delivery and the possibilities for change both possible and intentioned.
Throughout the research process, a participatory process with respondents was utilized based on acceptance of the understanding that Social innovations succeed when social sectors play a role and intentionality of women users is complex and undeterminable; Only the general sense indicating patterns was considered through a rigorous process informed by a selection of Qualitative Action Research methods that encompass the general GRACE Research methodology process.
These methods include;
- The Free Attitude interview
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis(Exercising a reflective stance)
- Literature Reviews
The respondents where active participants in the research process and they gave their consent and endorsement of the research process.
Research dilemmas and Alleviation
Highlighting experiences of confronting the Research dilemmas gives greater insight on the lessons learnt and lessons that can be shared with other Researchers doing similar work.
The Research platform
The research environment that underscored the GRACE Research Zambia Project was characterized by the following elements;
Respondents, Object of Research and the Research methodology. These elements define the research terrain of the Zambia project.
- Respondent
The respondent base was characterized by two classifications of respondents;
- Respondents with background information on the system of mobile Cellular phone Service provision.
This category included officials from Mobile Cellular Phone Service Providers, officials from a Government regulating Authority and selected communications specialists.
- Women leaders of the NGOCC Network
This comprised 5 women leaders of member organizations of the NGOCC Network.
Classification: 1
Government Departments: Slow Yields
It is generally difficult to collect information from Government institutions in Zambia because of their bureaucratic organizational systems. They do not have effective data retention systems and specific information on the status of women in relation to access to ICTs.
Institutional and valuable data is usually in the custody of long serving individuals and selected experts or professionals (NGOCC 2004)
Oral history in most cases becomes the best methodological option for extraction of valuable information from individuals.
Mobile Cellular Phone Service Providers: Fear of Infiltration
Conducting Research with a Mobile Cellular Phone Service provider is challenging. They instill measures to prevent from infiltration of competitor service providers by concealing information on practices to the extent that they will avoid any conversations with an external researcher. This occurred with MTN when they failed to meet appointments made by the GRACE Research Zambia Researcher on five occasions over a period of one year. To date, the meeting has not taken place. The extent of their barrier is the creation of their own internal intelligence marketing departments whose aim is to decipher private information of their competitors and inflict counter measures to gain competitive advantages (Internal Source).
The best data sources on the characteristics of mobile service provision and its influence on women users are the mobile service providers themselves. The stringent measures they create to insure impenetrability are a stumbling block to many institutions that could use this wide knowledge to enhance women's progress.
Allaying fears and working through internally placed individuals can prove valuable in extracting valuable internal information.
Classification: 2
Women's Networks: Fortified
There is a lack of constant cohesion among women's networks in Zambia.
Only when a pressing issue of common interest arises do they collaborate to advocate collectively.
However, in a general sense, unspoken tensions exist between women's organizations that are members of women's networks. These tensions may include suspicion of other organizations collaborating with policy making organs of government that generally pass policy that does not benefit women, (The underlying observation of Kate Young in an essay titled Planning from a Gender Perspective in The Women, Gender and Development reader is that Women's NGOs may not completely act on behalf of the people they claim to represent because they are led by a powerbase of people from the same Social stratum that is likely to be closed to ideas from other groups)
and tensions created by donor organizations as these organizations have to struggle for funds from the same donors to finance their varied organizational programs. An external researcher can be viewed with suspicion and denied an opportunity to penetrate this layer of protectionism.
The struggle for emancipation of women can be frustrating as the largely patriarchal society continues to block progress on many fronts. Officers in these organizations exhibit apathy and fatigue from time to time when confronted with a research questioning process like an in-depth interview on the subject of women's empowerment (Phyllis Chesler points out that women are harder on other women and this could explain their apathy of the subject to a degree) and a 'what's in it for me' attitude tends to surface.
Absence of organized and relevant up-to-date databases on the status of women in women's Organisations continues to be a challenge for research.
The lack of cohesion is usually the weak link for these organizations and an influencing factor in failures to change mindsets and policy.
Resource wars and ideological mismatches among women's organizations must not supersede holistic women's emancipation.
To allay fears of infiltration and resource rivalry, the researcher could use the strategy of idealism to appeal to the idealistic principle of women's emancipation that binds all women empowerment organizations.
- The Object of Research
The underlying need for the research was the need to understand the effect of the Mobile Cellular Phone as a phenomenon affecting women's empowerment in Zambia.
The Mobile Cellular Phone: Amorphous
Research on ICT must strive to remain current in light of the fact that ICT innovations like the Mobile Cellular Phone guarantee the constant change of reality in this sector.
Even more challenging is a research focus that highlights women's use of mobile Cellular Telephony. This remains one of the fastest growing sectors in Zambia with constant advancements in technological formulations that guarantee changes in user trends from time to time.
Owing to the modernity of the tool, there still remains little background data detailing its extended social influence. Most of the data that exists remains speculative.
- The Research methodologies
Qualitative Action Research methods that encompass the general GRACE Research methodology process frame the knowledge construction process.
These methods include;
- The Free Attitude interview
- Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis(Exercising a reflective stance)
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Literature Reviews
The analysis of data is cardinal to constructing the knowledge that encompasses the research results.
- The Free Attitude interview
When the free attitude interview is employed as opposed to the structured questionnaire driven interview, the researcher must be prepared to digest a multitude of data. The underlying principle in this approach is that the respondents' responses are information and must not influence conclusion to the extent that the researcher uses the respondents' analysis as the research analysis in the Research findings. A good companion to this interview technique is the Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis (Exercising a reflective stance).
The main challenge of this interview technique is its demand on the respondents' time. Considering the challenges of penetrating the spectrum of respondents outlined above, a measure of confidence and trust must be established between the researcher and the interviewee.
The ideal would be a positive mutual regard platform between researcher and interviewee as a prelude to the free attitude interview
- Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis(Exercising a reflective stance)
The Writing, reading and feedback exercises through the Probing depth analysis (Exercising a reflective stance) is a valuable aid in assessing the kind of data generated in a free attitude interview; the two go hand-in-hand.
It demands a great amount of energy from the researcher as they must constantly exercise patience with themselves in answering their own question to achieve a greater clarity. This remains a major challenge as it may begin to take up much of the energy that the researcher would rather spend on other mechanical tasks.
Using this technique requires a flexible mindset and as an alternative to structuralized Frameworks, it provides an opportunity for the researcher to create their own alternative theories on the matter at hand.
It requires objectivity from the researcher if they are to avoid prejudiced opinions to seep into the truth of the knowledge created.
- Appreciative Inquiry
An Appreciative Inquiry approach to a depth research must be a cautious one. In the case of women's use of the Mobile Cellular Phone and women's empowerment as a result, there are many issues to consider if the research process is to achieve resonating effects and maintain justice to the data.
In the first place, the Appreciative Inquiry approach disregards the elements of a phenomenon that do not work or negatively affect a community; instead, the approach is characterized by a specific focus on elements of phenomenon that affects a community positively or works to their benefit. It suggests that amplifying the positive elements will amplify gains and benefit the community of users of these elements than if the community worked to remove the negative effects by focusing on them.
This Principle's main challenge is the threat of obscuring the negatives for the benefit of the positives to the extent that the negatives continue to exist but only this time they are ignored and as a result they could exacerbate.
Adaptive preferences by women are practical results of appreciative inquiry principles practiced in society. The existing injustices towards women can only strive if they are continuously adapted to and women can only stand the injustices if they adapted to them and self-created positive meanings for them.
However, a beneficial appreciative strategy and positive application of appreciative inquiry principles is one where there is an exposure of the negatives and an adaptation to the current while the negatives are isolated and work towards their elimination continues. This calls for a cumulative process of improvement both at amplifying what works and eliminating what doesn't.
Summary
The process of research is one of constant learning and openness to new ideas and experiences. Through the research objective, the researcher interacts with the environment that embodies the research focus and establishes truths from the experience. The conclusions or revelations of the research process are carved by the interaction between researcher and research environment.
- Government Departments: Slow Yields
It is generally difficult to collect information from Government institutions in Zambia because of their bureaucratic organizational systems. They do not have effective data retention systems and specific information on the status of women in relation to access to ICTs. Oral history in most cases becomes the best methodological option for extraction of valuable information from individuals.
- Mobile Cellular Phone Service Providers: Fear of Infiltration
The best data sources on the characteristics of mobile service provision and its influence on women users are the mobile service providers themselves. The stringent measures they create to insure impenetrability is a stumbling block to many institutions that could use this wide knowledge to enhance women's progress. Allaying fears and working through internally placed individuals can prove valuable in extracting valuable internal information.
- There is a lack of constant cohesion among women's networks in Zambia.
Only when a pressing issue of common interest arises do they collaborate to advocate collectively, they exchange experiences and share ideas. Resource wars and ideological mismatches among women's organizations must not supersede holistic women's emancipation. To allay fears of infiltration and resource rivalry, the researcher could use the strategy of idealism to appeal to the idealistic principle of women's emancipation that binds all women empowerment organizations.
- The Mobile Cellular Phone: Amorphous
Research on ICT must strive to remain current in light of the fact that ICT innovations like the Mobile Cellular Phone are constantly changing in innovation that influences use and user trends
- Free attitude interview
The main challenge of this interview technique is its demand on the respondents' time. Considering the challenges of penetrating the spectrum of respondents, a measure of confidence and trust must be established between the researcher and the interviewee.
- Writing reading feedback exercise
It requires objectivity from the researcher if they are to avoid prejudiced opinions to seep into the truth of the knowledge created.
- Appreciative inquiry
However, a beneficial appreciative strategy and positive application of appreciative inquiry principles is one where there is an exposure of the negatives and an adaptation to the current while the negatives are isolated and work towards their elimination continues. This calls for a cumulative process of improvement both at amplifying what works and eliminating what doesn't.
The obstacles in a research environment are not insurmountable, in fact to a greater extent they are enriching to the whole research process as they further develop the Researcher. There is need for progressive collaboration between Social Service advocacy initiatives and corporate interests in Africa. The Exploitative nature of such industries can inflict reduction in the gains of women's progress so far. It is imperative to study possible models for corporate induced sustainable Social Development models.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
137 women's ways of knowing: the development of self, voice and mind. Belenky et all (1986)
Buskens 2008
Effect of mobile telephony on empowering rural communities (Sinha 2005)
Mobile Cellular Phones For Zambian Women: Making Life Better. (Abraham 2008)
The thin Book of Appreciative Inquiry (Hammond)
Woman's inhumanity to Woman (Phyllis Chesler 2001)
Beijing +10 shadow report on the situation of women in Zambia (NGOCC 2004)
Fine lines or Strong cords? Who do we think we are and who do we think we can become in the quest for quality in Qualitative Research (Buskens 2001)
Women, Gender and Development reader (Visvanathan et al 1997)
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