2021/08/22 by Norah Humus Alotaibi, Alotaibi, Norah Humus, Salihu Ibrahim Dasuki +3
Computer Science · Engineering · Social Sciences · #Computers and Society (cs.CY) #E-Government and Public Services #FOS: Computer and information sciences #ICT Impact and Policies #ICT in Developing Communities #Socioeconomic Development in MENA
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2108.09745
openalex publication_date 2021/08/22 · openalex created_date 2022/07/25 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
With the loosening of the male guardianship system (Wilaya) in the Kingdom of\nSaudi Arabia (KSA), this study examines the contribution of m-government to the\nempowerment of Saudi women. We employ the key concepts of Sen's Capability\nApproach (CA) to understand how m-government services in the KSA have provided\nopportunities for women to become empowered. The findings of the study indicate\nthat m-government contributes towards women's empowerment by providing\nopportunities to participate in social and economic activities. However, there\nare also key social and cultural factors that impede the use of m-government\nservices for empowerment, and we found these to include religious beliefs,\nSaudi traditions and customs, and husbands' jealousy. The study makes some\nimportant contributions to theory and practice by being the first study to\nfocus on the use that Saudi women make of the opportunities now available to\nthem to access government services through m-government applications and to\naddress the cultural barriers which may function to prevent their access.\n