A gender gap in mobile ownership was observed in Myanmar, with females being 28% less likely to own a phone than males in 2016 (Figure 35) A similar gap of 29% was observed in 2015, despite an increase in female ownership of mobile phones (Figure 36). 4 4 11 43 41 I cannot afford a mobile handset I don’t need a mobile I don’t know how to use a mobile No mobile coverage where I live Other Figure 40: Primary reason for not owning a mobile phone amongst females (% of 15-65 female non owners) To understand the reasons for this gender gap in mobile phone ownership, GSMA and LIRNEasia conducted a qualitative study among 91 males and females in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, and Pantanaw, a small town in the southwestern part of the country. 52 ICTs in Myanmar: 2016 The research showed that females in Myanmar play a prominent role in the management of household finances — even if they do not earn anything themselves — and are frequently involved in the financial decision to purchase a mobile phone for the family. Despite this, females’ access to this family mobile phone is often limited, as the phone tends to travel outside the home with the person who is deemed to need it the most. Since males more often undertake activities outside the home, this mobile access and usage gender gap is exacerbated. As such, getting a second mobile phone into the household (which has a higher likelihood of staying inside the household) seems key to increasing females’ access and usage. The top two reasons among females for not owning a mobile phone — lack of affordability or need — are connected. 43% and 41% of female mobile non-owners stated these as their reasons for not owning a phone in 2016 (Figure 40). “Not needing” a mobile is relative to the cost-benefit trade-off of purchasing an additional phone for the household. Many females without a mobile phone said that they don’t “need” one because they do not leave the house for work or studies. Though many would like to have their own mobile, they felt that even if they did buy one, the top-ups would be unaffordable as they are either not earning an income, or are earning a lot less than the male household members. The clear