Social Construction of Empowerment: A Study on Government ICT Programmes for Women in Kerala
Author: Rashmi M, pmrashmi87@gmail.com
Department: Humanities
University: Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, India
Supervisor: Lekshmi V Nair
Year of completion: 2017
Language of dissertation: English
Keywords:
ICT
, E-Enterprises
, Actor Network Theory
, Women
Areas of Research:
Science and Technology
, Women in Society
, Work
Abstract
Women have increasingly proven to be active and enthusiastic
participants in a large variety of ICT enabled projects, such as computer training
and data entry facilities, call centres, billing, computer repair work, and e-enabled
businesses. The significance of such programmes is in its ability to outreach
several households because social, economic and political uplift of women will
have implications on the coming generations as well. The study was done in the
context of the state of Kerala. The study targeted those ICT programmes
constructed and designed for women. The research commences by reviewing the
underlying agendas on empowerment programmes which utilize ICT as a tool. In
the state of Kerala, only one ICT programme for women was discovered which
was initiated by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM)) or popularly
known as Kudumbashree Mission. Further discussions accentuated the specific
role played by the IT enterprises in the social system of its women beneficiaries.
The analytical capabilities and methodological apparatus of actor –
network theory was used to comprehend the formation of Kudumbashree IT
Enterprises. The factors of empowerment were also studied along with the issues
which constrained and liberated their action. The theoretical lens of the study is
built upon the aspects of neo-institutionalism, functional simplification,
empowerment and sociology of translation. The concepts used for the study were
operationally defined using indicators obtained through secondary sources and
discussions with the subject experts, key informants and authors.
The arguments were made using an interpretive case study of Kudumbashree
IT enterprise. The research has employed both qualitative and quantitative data for
a better understanding of the field of study. The findings showcase a process of
adaptation which leads to the induction of women into the process of
empowerment. The research indicates that such ICT interventions are helpful in
terms of uplifting women socially, economically and politically. The study has
also critically discussed the process of empowerment by analysing data obtained
from the ground.
