Leveraging Modern Technology: Empowering Women through Reduction of Unpaid Labour in Nairobi City County, Kenya.

Abstract

Women’s economic empowerment has become a major theme in Gender Equality and Sustainable Development. At the same time, women have long been burdened with the majority of unpaid household labour, limiting their participation in various economic activities. Scholars have linked the adoption of modern technology to alleviating the burden of care work and enhancing women’s economic opportunities. This abstract explores the intersection between women's adoption of modern technology in addressing unpaid labour and its impact on their economic empowerment in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study utilised an exploratory multiple-case design with snowball sampling and social media analysis to gain insights into how women in Nairobi leverage modern technology to reduce unpaid labour, consequently enhancing their economic empowerment. The study revealed that mobile technologies are the most utilised form of technology. Mobile technologies connect women to the marketplace and individuals who can deliver products. The installation of CCTV allows women to monitor and manage their households remotely, allowing them peace of mind to concentrate on income-generating activities. Social media provides a platform to share information on obtaining a work-life balance. Other technologies included washing machines and refrigerators, and modern forms of energy were used in cooking. This study supports the potential of technology in alleviating the burden of care work on women, enhancing their economic empowerment. Future studies are required to improve accessibility to affordable technologies and internet connectivity for women and enhance digital literacy. This should happen in spite of the overarching hegemonic masculinity, which has a direct influence on the socio-cultural view of ideal femininities, and the resultant guilt-driven push to meet these imposed standards of femininity.