مقاله انگلیسی رایگان در مورد توانمند سازی زنان کارآفرین کوچک – الزویر ۲۰۱۹

Drawing upon the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), this research investigated the impact of information communications technology (ICT) on self-efficacy, social capital, and empowerment in the overlooked context of women micro-entrepreneurs. In addition to testing the original TAM constructs of usefulness and perceived ease of use, this research extended TAM to ICT use outcomes. Data were collected from 199 women micro-entrepreneurs in South Africa using an online survey and were analyzed via structural equation modeling. The results suggested that ICT usage decisions were influenced by women’s perceptions of ICT ease of use and usefulness. Additionally, ICT usage influence on social capital bridging was moderated by self-efficacy, while ICT usage had a strong direct influence on self-efficacy and social capital bonding. Social capital bridging and bonding and self-efficacy had varying influence on women empowerment measured as goal internalization, perceived control, competence, and impact. These findings were robust even after controlling for potentially confounding variables identified in the literature. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.

Introduction

One of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals launched on the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls (United Nations, 2018). Referring to Keller and Mbewe (1991), Rowlands (1995, p. 104) defines empowerment as: “A process whereby women become able to organise themselves to increase their own self-reliance, to assert their independent right to make choices and to control resources which will assist in challenging and eliminating their own subordination.” Empowering women in emerging economies will not only improve household welfare but will also positively impact the social and fiscal health of nations through better education, poverty reduction, and decreased violence (De Vita, Mari, & Poggesi, 2014; Dolan & Scott, 2009; Scott, Dolan, Johnstone-Louis, Sugden, & Wu, 2012). One tool identified by scholars with the potential to facilitate women empowerment in emerging economies is that of information communications technology (Ajjan, Beninger, Mostafa, & Crittenden, 2014; Maier & Nair-Reichert, 2007; Wamala, 2012).