The Sada Says 'We Women Have Our Rights': A Gender Analysis of an ICT Initiative in Afghanistan

Citation:

Sengupta, Ami, Esther G. Long, Arvind Singhal, and Corinne L. Shefner-Rogers. 2007. "The Sada Says 'We Women Have Our Rights': A Gender Analysis of an ICT Initiative in Afghanistan." International Communication Gazette 69 (4): 335-53. 

Authors: Ami Sengupta, Esther G. Long, Arvind Singhal, Corinne L. Schefter-Rogers

Abstract:

This study analyses Voice for Humanity's (VFH) Sada initiative to promote women's rights, citizen participation and civic education during the Afghan parliamentary elections in 2005. A qualitative assessment was conducted to gain an in-depth understanding of how Afghan women, in particular, utilized the Sada device. This research, positioned within current literature on information communication technology (ICT) and gender, views the Sada device — a solar-powered digital audio player (similar to an MP3 player) — as an ICT. Universally, women have unequal access to ICTs, yet the findings of this study suggest that projects such as this one in Afghanistan can play a powerful role in promoting women's rights. The findings reiterate that information dissemination, spurred by a suitable technology, can lead to family and community dialog. Such dialog, coupled with a more enabling environment for women's concerns, can contribute to women's empowerment and realization of women's human rights.

Topics: Education, Gender, Women, Gender Analysis, Infrastructure, Information & Communication Technologies, Political Participation, Rights, Women's Rights Regions: Asia, South Asia Countries: Afghanistan

Year: 2007