Using mobile phones to promote lifelong learning among rural women in Southern India

Abstract

This article is an attempt to study the role of mobile phones in the non‐formal and informal context among rural women from resource poor communities. In particular, it focuses on the women's control over the mobile phone as a learning tool through the domestication of technologies. The distance learning, gender dimensions, and use of technologies have been analysed vis‐à‐vis the concept of social capital. The article demonstrates that the transition from powerlessness to empowerment is possible in non‐formal learning settings and low‐cost technologies offer means to accelerate this process in the context of social capital.

Keywords:

• lifelong learning
• gender
• mobile phone
• domestication

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for support of this project by Sir John Daniel, President and CEO of the Commonwealth of Learning, Mr Kamaraj and his team in Vidiyal, and the women members of VIDIVELLI.