Tier‐based transformation in women's time management through electricity access: Insights from rural Cambodia

Abstract This research examines the impact of electricity access on women's time management in rural Cambodia using qualitative methods, including semi‐structured interviews and textual analysis. The study reviews crucial concepts, such as women's empowerment and time poverty and explores how electricity access influences these dynamics. Findings indicate that while previous studies suggest a uniform reduction in time poverty due to decreased drudgery across different levels of electricity access, this study reveals variations. It shows that reductions in time poverty are not only from decreased drudgery but also from increased disposable time, especially in off‐grid conditions where women may experience an increase in drudgery. Moreover, the extent of time poverty reduction varies with the level of electricity access, highlighting a nuanced pattern from off‐grid to national grid scenarios. This study contributes to understanding the gendered impacts of electricity access and its relation to women's autonomy in time management.