Impact of mobile phone usage on empowerment of rural women entrepreneurs: Evidence from rural Bangladesh

Mobile phones have become a key technological tool in developing countries, particularly in agricultural enterprises. This study examines how mobile phone usage influences the empowerment of female entrepreneurs in rural farming communities, based on data collected from 150 women in Bangladesh. Their empowerment was analyzed across five dimensions: economic, social, technological, psychological, and political. The findings reveal a significant increase in overall empowerment, with the composite index rising to 61.92% following mobile phone adoption, compared to 37.47% before its use. This demonstrates the substantial positive impact of mobile phone access on rural female farmers. Statistically meaningful improvements were observed across all dimensions, with economic empowerment showing the greatest increase, while political empowerment experienced the least growth. Additionally, strong correlations were found between social, technological, and psychological aspects of empowerment. The study confirms a direct link between mobile phone adoption and rising empowerment levels, with higher usage leading to stronger empowerment outcomes. Based on these results, policymakers and development organizations are encouraged to promote mobile technology as a means to empower rural women in Bangladesh. Key strategies include improving access, addressing socio-cultural barriers, and advancing digital literacy initiatives.

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This works is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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