SIG SI - Social Inclusion and Socio-Technical Issues

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Paper Type

Complete

Paper Number

1512

Description

In this paper, we study on-demand work applications (ODWA), a form of digital platforms, as enablers of women belonging to low socio-economic sections. These women act as primary unpaid workers while being expected to make economic contribution. Hence, they suffer from time scarcity. We employ the theoretical lens of affordance theory to delineate the affordances from various features of ODWA to these women. We do a mixed method study employing interviews of gig workers supplemented with survey of 927 workers of one of the largest ODWA in India. Our analysis points to the sense of identity that these platforms provide. We also find that the presence of a digital platform between the customer and these women lowers societal boundaries that have been the biggest challenge in their inclusion. Our research is, significant in IS area as it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the impact of digital platforms on the society.

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Aug 10th, 12:00 AM

MARGINALISED WOMEN AND TIME SCARCITY: A MIXED METHOD STUDY ON ‘ON DEMAND WORK APPS’

In this paper, we study on-demand work applications (ODWA), a form of digital platforms, as enablers of women belonging to low socio-economic sections. These women act as primary unpaid workers while being expected to make economic contribution. Hence, they suffer from time scarcity. We employ the theoretical lens of affordance theory to delineate the affordances from various features of ODWA to these women. We do a mixed method study employing interviews of gig workers supplemented with survey of 927 workers of one of the largest ODWA in India. Our analysis points to the sense of identity that these platforms provide. We also find that the presence of a digital platform between the customer and these women lowers societal boundaries that have been the biggest challenge in their inclusion. Our research is, significant in IS area as it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the impact of digital platforms on the society.

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