Digital media in the economic empowerment of the Hijra community

Abstract

Despite official recognition in 2013, the Hijra community in Bangladesh continues to endure persistent discrimination and exclusion, limiting them to traditional and menial professions and perpetuating their cycle of poverty and marginalization. This study examines the economic potential of digital media for the Hijra community and the barriers they face in harnessing it for economic empowerment. Through qualitative analysis conducted via semi-structured interviews with Hijra participants, we explore their perceptions of digital media’s opportunities and challenges. Thematic analysis reveals that while Hijras primarily use digital media for psychological needs, they recognize its potential for economic empowerment. However, they encounter barriers, such as financial constraints, limited education and digital literacy, and societal stigma, hindering their ability to leverage digital platforms for economic advancement. Drawing from our findings, we propose actionable recommendations, including policy changes, enhanced online safety measures, educational initiatives for digital literacy, public awareness campaigns, and financial assistance to enable the Hijra community to fully harness the economic potential of digital media and alleviate their socioeconomic struggles.

Keywords:

• Hijra
• digital media
• economic empowerment
• online earning
• marginalized communities

Ethics approval

This research was approved by Jahangirnagar University Biosafety, Biosecurity, and Ethical Clearance Committee with a clearance no. BBEC, JU/M2023/11(66).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any funds.

Notes on contributors

Kakulee Akhter

Kakulee Akhter is a graduate student in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Md. Sayeed Al-Zaman

Md. Sayeed Al-Zaman is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. His research focuses on the intersection between the internet and social issues, digital information, and online behavior.