Mobile telephony and its influence on gender roles among the Maasai women of Ngong division Kajiado north district
Abstract
Mobile telephony is widely used across all classes in Kenya. The penetration and accessibility
has created and offered opportunity for majority of people in Kenya. However, the accessibility
and use is not uniform especially among the rural women. Mobile telephony is relevant means
of two-way communication for a vast majority of the marginalized communities which include
the Maasai women.
This paper draws on a recent study which was aimed at investigating the mobile telephony and
its influence on gender roles among the Maasai women in Kajiado North district. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection which included a
questionnaire survey, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. The study had 40
respondents who were purposively sampled, two focus group discussions and six key
informants.
From the study, it was evident that mobile phone has completely changed the communication
behaviour of women in the two locations. Maasai women have already started appropriating the
mobile phone which they are using for communication and business purposes, and this is
translated into improved family welfare. The mobile phone has created some form of equality
among men and women in the Maasai community. The rural Masaai women are able to gather
and share information courtesy of the new device. This has enabled them to participate in
decision making affecting their families hence contributing in changing gender roles within
households. Women have taken roles which were previously perceived to be for men and are
interacting beyond the traditional domestic sphere
The study recommends that there is need to find out the extent to which mobile phones reduces
poverty among the larger Maasai community and how the mobile telephony as a sector could
be strengthened as an engine for socio-economic growth. In addition, a further research to
better understand how mobile telephony assist in mitigating gender inequalities in access to
telecommunication services is required.
Citation
Department of Gender and Development StudiesSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
University of Nairobi Faculty of Arts, University of Nairobi,Kenya