MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, AND GENDER IN MYANMAR MOBILE PHONES, INTERNET, AND GENDER IN MYANMAR Source: MSR Figure 14 Initial adoption motives Business needs To be reachable for clients/business partners, to order goods, to sell goods etc. Clanning To stay in touch with other family members who live far away and those who leave home to go to work/study Security To call other family members in emergencies (e.g. when child or others fall sick) 5.1.1 Who makes the decision to get connected There are essentially two components to the ‘decision’ to adopt. The first is the decision to actually get a mobile phone; the second relates to the decision (or set of decisions) to act on it. Since getting connected for the first time would involve spending a fairly large amount of household income, the decision would most often be discussed among the ‘seniors’ in the house: the household head, spouse, elders, and any adult children. The practice of consulting with seniors on ‘big’ decisions is a part of the culture observed in most families, as revealed by the qualitative research. Younger members of the household would typically not be involved at this stage. Once a decision is made to buy a mobile, a second set of decisions needs to be made: what type of handset to buy, which provider’s SIM to purchase, etc. Typically women would not get involved in these decisions; they feel they have little product knowledge and that men would do a better job at deciding since they know more about technical issues. For these kinds of decisions, additional product expertise is sought from family/ friends or younger members of the household who are knowledgeable about mobile phones. Some young urban educated women interviewed in the qualitative research were quite knowledgeable; they knew exactly which model they wanted and compared options themselves before telling their family what they wanted. They felt their mobile phone knowledge was on par with men and were self-confident in this respect. Enabling women to improve their digital skills can help them to participate in the handset purchase decision. A common pattern seen in the qualitative research is a change in adoption motives as mobiles become more widespread and people learn more about them. Initially, adoption motives are related to voice calls, either for business needs (communicating with clients/business partners, etc.), staying in touch with family (‘clanning’), or for security/ emergency communication. Social status is now a key motivating factor—to avoid feeling left out, or to avoid the embarrassment of having to ask others to use their phones. Entertainment/relaxation is another motivating factor, as smartphone owners use the internet and many have discovered gaming and listening to music. “Even my mother plays games. We thought it’s relaxing.” “I want the latest model to feel modern.” Female non-owner, 36, SEC D-E, Yangon FGD Yangon, female non-owner, 18–29, non-working, SEC C/D “I was the first [in my family] to own a phone and bought it 8 months ago. I wanted it because everybody has one.” HV, rural, female owner, 21, working 32 5.1.2 Who gets the first mobile? According to the national survey, 58% of households have an active SIM, and 57% at least one working handset; many households had more than one. In fact, in some affluent households visited in the qualitative research, all adults had a mobile. In less affluent ones, where only one or two could be afforded, ownership was ‘awarded’ by necessity. Those who manage a business, do trading, or work outside the home or in a different part of Myanmar were seen to have a higher need for a phone and therefore got one first, regardless of gender. In most cases, however, it seems that male family members owned a mobile first since they are the ones who are expected to/are more likely to go outside the home and earn an income. Furthermore, they earn more than female family members, so they can save and afford them faster. Since access to mobile communication has become less expensive, many think that everyone should have a mobile phone to stay in touch with family members all the time. Even low-income earners sometimes borrow to buy or buy a mobile in installments, because they do not want to be left out, particularly in urban areas. In some families, women were actually the first one to own a mobile because they managed the family business or left home to study. A few women in the sample studied abroad or lived in Yangon, separated from their family. Those women were self-confident and had an independent mind-set, which increased their curiosity to engage with the internet and technology. 33