M-government and women's empowerment: Case study of Saudi women

Alotaibi, Norah; Dasuki, Salihu; Zamani, Efpraxia

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113758 Copy

Description

Title

M-government and women's empowerment: Case study of Saudi women

Author(s)

• Alotaibi, Norah
• Dasuki, Salihu
• Zamani, Efpraxia

Issue Date

2022-02-28

Keyword(s)

• M-government
• women’s empowerment
• Saudi Arabia
• Capability Approach

Abstract

With the loosening of the male guardianship system (Wilaya) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), this study examines the contribution of m-government to the empowerment of Saudi women. We employ the key concepts of Sen’s Capability Approach (CA) to understand how m-government services in the KSA have provided opportunities for women to become empowered. The findings of the study indicate that m-government contributes towards women’s empowerment by providing opportunities to participate in social and economic activities. However, there are also key social and cultural factors that impede the use of m-government services for empowerment, and we found these to include religious beliefs, Saudi traditions and customs, and husbands’ jealousy. The study makes some important contributions to theory and practice by being the first study to focus on the use that Saudi women make of the opportunities now available to them to access government services through m-government applications and to address the cultural barriers which may function to prevent their access.

Publisher

iSchools

Type of Resource

Other

Language

eng

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113758

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2022 is held by Norah Alotaibi, Salihu Dasuki, and Efpraxia Zamani. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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