Degree

BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)

Faculty / School

School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)

Department

Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts

Date of Award

Fall 2024

Date of Submission

2024-09-10

Advisor

Rahma Muhammad Mian, Lecturer, Department of Social Sciences

Committee

Shahzeb Ahmed Hashim; Aliya Iqbal Naqvi

Project Type

SSLA Culminating Experience

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Gendered Digital Divide, Privacy Mechanisms, Self-Disclosure, Patriarchal Norms

Abstract

This research explores the gendered digital divide in South Asia, where patriarchal norms, accessibility issues, and socio-cultural factors affect women's online participation. This qualitative research explores the privacy mechanisms and practices of female social media users in Karachi, Pakistan, with a specific focus on Facebook and Instagram. The study aims to understand how patriarchal norms, socio-cultural contexts and digital literacy skills influence privacy behaviors among women on social networking sites. The study addresses the question of how women navigate privacy in the face of socio-cultural challenges and digital risks. By utilizing focus groups with 26 female participants from various socio-economic backgrounds, the research examines patterns of usage, self-disclosure, privacy strategies and awareness of privacy features on Meta platforms. The study adopts Helen Nissenbaum's concept of contextual integrity and Irwin Altman's Privacy Regulation Theory to analyze how cultural norms shape online privacy practices. Usage patterns reveal that women employ diverse privacy strategies, including selective self-disclosure and the use of non-facial profile pictures, to navigate the risks of online harassment and adhere to gender norms and familial values. Significant disparities in privacy awareness are evident across various socioeconomic levels, as willingness to disclose information varies, with some users more comfortable sharing due to better awareness of privacy features, while others are cautious and rely on alternative mechanisms. Privacy practices, including strict friending habits and high levels of anonymity, highlight the complex interaction between technology, socio-economic status, and cultural expectations. Emphasizing the need for culturally nuanced privacy regulations, this research highlights the challenges SNS users face in balancing publicness with privacy. It provides insights into how global privacy guidelines often neglect cultural realities, resulting in varied alternative privacy practices. The research enhances understanding of digital privacy in patriarchal societies and emphasizes the need to address gendered issues to create safer online spaces for women.

Pages

94

Notes

I dedicate this research project to all the women out there who have been made to feel small, used, or abused, to all the young girls who have lost something along life's journey, and to every woman who hesitates before posting a selfie. To every woman who has felt like life is on the brink because of a picture, a video, or a message. This is for those who navigate the digital world with courage despite the challenges. This is for me, for you, for all of us.

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