Oxford Sociologists find strong link between mobile phone access and empowerment for women in developing world

A new study published this week by Dr Valentina Rotondi and Professor Ridhi Kashyap from the Department of Sociology has found that mobile phones empower women in the developing world.

The paper, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that there is a strong correlation between mobile phone ownership and social development indicators in developing nations. In particular, the study finds that women who own a mobile phone in poorer countries are ‘better informed about sexual and reproductive health services and empowered to make independent decisions.’ The findings are important for sustainable development goals and highlight the importance of mobile technology for strengthening social development.

Read the full coverage on the University's webpage.

Read the full article on the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences website.