Digital access through smartphones and well-being of BoP women: insights from a field study in India
Information Technology & People
ISSN: 0959-3845
Article publication date: 1 December 2020
Issue publication date: 17 January 2022
Abstract
Purpose
The authors study the effect of access to smartphones on the socio-economic well-being in the case of rural base of the pyramid (BoP) women. While smartphone access may have its benefits, the paper suggests augmenting access with a sociotechnical intermediary (STI) that facilitates training and online community building to enhance the well-being outcomes.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors conducted a survey from three groups of women from rural West Bengal (India) – (1) who do not own smartphones, (2) who have their own smartphones and (3) who receive smartphones and STI support (over two years). The authors evaluate the effect of access to smartphones and STI support on social well-being (including structural social capital and empowerment) and economic well-being (including entrepreneurial intent and subjective economic well-being).
Findings
The analysis results suggest a high relationship between smartphone ownership and higher structural social capital, empowerment (in terms of freedom of movement) and entrepreneurial intent. The authors further find these effects to be enhanced amongst women who received smartphones and support from STI.
Originality/value
The authors attribute this enhanced well-being amongst women with smartphones and STI support to peer-learning and cultivation of virtual role models facilitated by the STI through creation of intra-community online groups. The results have significant policy implications for socio-economic well-being of rural BoP women.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Funding: This work was supported by the Doctoral Programme and Research Office of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta. The smartphones (Panasonic T-44) distributed to the rural participants in the study were sponsored by Panasonic India.
Citation
Parthiban, R., Jaikumar, S., Basak, J. and Bandyopadhyay, S. (2022), "Digital access through smartphones and well-being of BoP women: insights from a field study in India", Information Technology & People, Vol. 35 No. 1, pp. 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-10-2019-0552
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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