MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, AND GENDER IN MYANMAR 5 MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, AND GENDER IN MYANMAR Source: LIRNEasia Baseline Survey, 2015 Figure 13 Mobile use in Myanmar According to the research, 57% of Myanmar’s population aged 15–6535 used a mobile the last time they used a phone,36 while 30% had never used any type of phone (mobile or fixed) before. Women were 6% less likely to have used a phone in general than men. The reasons for this difference could be that many women do not own their own phone, so their access is through shared household phones (mostly mobile), or borrowed phones (mostly from other household members). Furthermore, of the women in Myanmar aged 15–65, almost half stay at home (i.e. do not work). Even if someone in their household does have a mobile, it is most likely taken with them out of the house during the daytime. Both men and women use the phone for social reasons or keeping in touch (Figure 13). Based on the last call made by respondents who are currently working, men used the phone more for livelihood-related purposes. Main purpose of the respondent’s last phone call % of the population aged 15–65 who have used a phone before Other Emergency communication Coordination of some other activity (excluding livelihood) Other 100% Emergency communication Livelihood-related 90% Coordination of some other activity (excluding livelihood) 80% Livelihood-related 70% 60% 50% Social purposes / keeping in touch Social purposes / keeping in touch 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Male (%) Female (%) Currently Working Male (%) Female (%) Not Working 5.1 Getting connected The well-being of one’s family is a top priority for most people in Myanmar. Greater access to mobile communication in Myanmar has made it easier and more affordable to stay in touch with family, according to qualitative respondents. As mentioned in Section 1, 33% of females and 47% of males aged 15–65 own a mobile phone. Mobile ownership was highest among those who were currently working: 44% versus 33%. “Everyone has it. Only me don’t have it. Even those who collect plastic bags have it.” Female non-owner, 28, Yangon At the time of the survey, mobile ownership37 in Yangon was 83% of 15–65 year olds. This high penetration in urban areas has contributed to a perception that ‘everyone’, even the very poorest, have a mobile phone. According to the survey, 79% of men and 69% of women who are currently unconnected planned on getting connected by February–March 2016. 35. The target population of the national survey 36. While 13% had used a fixed phone/landline for their last phone call, 30% had never used a phone before. 30 37. That is, ownership of an active mobile SIM card. 31