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.