Free Smartphones? But Still Finding It Difficult to Find Place for Phones in Their Lives: Understanding Digital Interactions of Older Widow Women in Rural India

This study is an exploration of the digital interactions of older widowed women living in rural India, who received free smartphones under a government scheme aimed at empowering marginalized women. Situated within the intersectionality framework, the research is an analysis of how the interplay of age, gender, widowhood, and rural residence shapes these women’s experiences with technology. Based on semistructured interviews with 16 widowed women aged 60–85 years, it was found in the study that the majority of the respondents are not using the smartphones themselves but have passed on the smartphones to younger female family members, citing utility to younger members and sociocultural norms. The study highlights the complex dynamics of digital inclusion in the Global South, where sociocultural factors lead to expectations that women conform to stereotypes about gender, age, and social status (being widowed) and, hence, significantly influence the adoption and use of technology. The study underscores the need for customized digital literacy initiatives that address both technical skills and the cultural stigmas surrounding technology use among older women living in rural areas. The study contributes to the discourse on the digital divide by focusing on a group that embodies several marginalities, offering insights for policy frameworks aimed at equitable digital empowerment.