Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi
This study explores mobile phone use among female live-out (as opposed to live-in) domestic workers in Delhi. Through interviews with 102 workers, it examines two main themes. First, it provides a nuanced perspective on the relationship between mobile telephony and women’s empowerment by viewing the...
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2018
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/73629 |
| _version_ | 1811695983793274880 |
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| author | Malhotra, Pranav |
| author2 | Richard Seyler Ling |
| author_facet | Richard Seyler Ling Malhotra, Pranav |
| author_sort | Malhotra, Pranav |
| collection | NTU |
| description | This study explores mobile phone use among female live-out (as opposed to live-in) domestic workers in Delhi. Through interviews with 102 workers, it examines two main themes. First, it provides a nuanced perspective on the relationship between mobile telephony and women’s empowerment by viewing the impact of the device through the conceptual lens of restricted agency. It finds that for marginalized women who have limited options available to them, the device is integrated into existing power structures that remain unaltered. Yet, it is within the constraints imposed on them by patriarchal cultural beliefs and their low socio-economic status that they utilize the mobile phone to gain a greater sense of autonomy and control over their domestic and professional lives. Second, this study also examines the economic impact of the mobile phone on their work. It finds that the device enhances their productivity and makes job-seeking more efficient. Moreover, it is the workers’ ability to stay in touch with family and friends, which can often be ignored amidst the heavy focus on instrumental business-related uses of the mobile phone, that significantly contributes towards the device’s positive impact on their work. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T07:32:08Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | ntu-10356/73629 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T07:32:08Z |
| publishDate | 2018 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/736292020-10-28T08:29:23Z Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi Malhotra, Pranav Richard Seyler Ling Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication This study explores mobile phone use among female live-out (as opposed to live-in) domestic workers in Delhi. Through interviews with 102 workers, it examines two main themes. First, it provides a nuanced perspective on the relationship between mobile telephony and women’s empowerment by viewing the impact of the device through the conceptual lens of restricted agency. It finds that for marginalized women who have limited options available to them, the device is integrated into existing power structures that remain unaltered. Yet, it is within the constraints imposed on them by patriarchal cultural beliefs and their low socio-economic status that they utilize the mobile phone to gain a greater sense of autonomy and control over their domestic and professional lives. Second, this study also examines the economic impact of the mobile phone on their work. It finds that the device enhances their productivity and makes job-seeking more efficient. Moreover, it is the workers’ ability to stay in touch with family and friends, which can often be ignored amidst the heavy focus on instrumental business-related uses of the mobile phone, that significantly contributes towards the device’s positive impact on their work. Master of Mass Communication 2018-04-02T07:01:09Z 2018-04-02T07:01:09Z 2018 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10356/73629 10.32657/10356/73629 en Nanyang Technological University 76 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication Malhotra, Pranav Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi |
| title | Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi |
| title_full | Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi |
| title_fullStr | Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi |
| title_short | Mobile phone use among female live-out domestic workers in Delhi |
| title_sort | mobile phone use among female live out domestic workers in delhi |
| topic | DRNTU::Social sciences::Sociology::Family, marriage and women DRNTU::Social sciences::Communication |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/73629 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT malhotrapranav mobilephoneuseamongfemaleliveoutdomesticworkersindelhi |