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AbstractAs China radically changes, one of the most surprising developments has been the heavy use of ICT (information communication technology) by highly marginalized and economically deprived citizens. In particular migrants are heavily incorporating communication technology into their lives to manage dislocation and reconnection to home. Using ethnographic methods I will uncover the processes that rural to urban migrant families engage in to make their new city their home. I am specifically interested in how these low-income families use (and do not use) ICTs to support their daily communication in coordinating everyday activities from work to family matters to school and to leisure. By studying technology usage among this specific population, we can get a better understanding of how technology is used within a family. My analysis will draw upon pervious fieldwork on the Chinese internet infrastructure with the Chinese Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), as well as fieldwork with migrants in Mexico, to inform my planned study. Read more about my awesome dissertation committee and why I think chose Wuhan, China as my field research site.
Abstract
As China radically changes, one of the most surprising developments has been the heavy use of ICT (information communication technology) by highly marginalized and economically deprived citizens. In particular migrants are heavily incorporating communication technology into their lives to manage dislocation and reconnection to home. Using ethnographic methods I will uncover the processes that rural to urban migrant families engage in to make their new city their home. I am specifically interested in how these low-income families use (and do not use) ICTs to support their daily communication in coordinating everyday activities from work to family matters to school and to leisure. By studying technology usage among this specific population, we can get a better understanding of how technology is used within a family. My analysis will draw upon pervious fieldwork on the Chinese internet infrastructure with the Chinese Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC), as well as fieldwork with migrants in Mexico, to inform my planned study. Read more about my awesome dissertation committee and why I think chose Wuhan, China as my field research site.
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Why This Topic is Important!: Increasing Tech Usage Around the World, Technological DeterminismWhile there is a great research foundation on ICT usage by individuals, we still have a lot to gain by understanding how technology is used within important social units, such as the family. There is also much to be learned about how low-income groups use technology. With communities across Africa, Asia, and South America gaining access to more affordable digital tools, the question is whether or not these tools could bring about more equality in access to information, networks, and social resources. While my research does not attempt to measure level of equality with ICT use, my work does speak to a very deep concern with trying to understand what it means when non-elite communities gain access to tools that were once reserved for elite users. One response do this digital revolution has been a fervor among leaders around the world for pushing technology in less unevenly developed areas for the end goal of economic development. Programs are receiving millions of dollars in funding to bridge the "digital divide." Organizations like One Laptop Per Child are acting upon the assumption that giving laptops to low-income people will equalize social conditions. Critiques have arisen regarding the effectiveness of these programs as major social or cultural issues have surfaced, often interfering with the goals of these programs and at times creating more problems and disappoint among the targeted groups. My research speaks to this very concern. Without a deep socio-cultural understanding of a community, even well-intentioned endeavors to improve existing social conditions could fail. I strongly believe that ethnographic studies can bring a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural context of peoples' lives.
Why This Topic is Important!: Increasing Tech Usage Around the World, Technological Determinism
While there is a great research foundation on ICT usage by individuals, we still have a lot to gain by understanding how technology is used within important social units, such as the family. There is also much to be learned about how low-income groups use technology. With communities across Africa, Asia, and South America gaining access to more affordable digital tools, the question is whether or not these tools could bring about more equality in access to information, networks, and social resources. While my research does not attempt to measure level of equality with ICT use, my work does speak to a very deep concern with trying to understand what it means when non-elite communities gain access to tools that were once reserved for elite users. One response do this digital revolution has been a fervor among leaders around the world for pushing technology in less unevenly developed areas for the end goal of economic development. Programs are receiving millions of dollars in funding to bridge the "digital divide." Organizations like One Laptop Per Child are acting upon the assumption that giving laptops to low-income people will equalize social conditions. Critiques have arisen regarding the effectiveness of these programs as major social or cultural issues have surfaced, often interfering with the goals of these programs and at times creating more problems and disappoint among the targeted groups. My research speaks to this very concern. Without a deep socio-cultural understanding of a community, even well-intentioned endeavors to improve existing social conditions could fail. I strongly believe that ethnographic studies can bring a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural context of peoples' lives.
Research Question How do various members of a rural-urban migrant families use and acquire ICTs to support their everyday lives to become members of the city, create a sense of belonging to a community, and to make the urban space their new home?I will investigate the role of telecommunication policies (that pertain to pricing and usage), geographical factors (move from the home village, location of internet cafes, daily transportation), access to technology (cellphone and internet), and social connections in shaping the inter-personal communication patterns of migrant families in Wuhan, China.The breakdown:What does a rural to urban migrant family in China look like?What kind of strategies to families adopt to become members of their urban home?How do urban migrant families acquire ICTs?How do members of an urban migrant family use ICTs to manage their social connections?How successful are urban migrant families at using ICTs to navigate and negotiate their new city vis-a-vis their desire to become members of Wuhan, China?How do migrants use ICTs to gain access to social resources and information in the city? (for example, education, healthcare, pleasure, transportation, legal rights, shopping and place of residence)What are the emergent practices and emotions that are formed to maintain social connections both to back home, but also to those in the host city?How do ICT policies (in pricing and usage mandates) affect the use of digital tools?How do parents and children make decisions about technology usage?
Research Question
How do various members of a rural-urban migrant families use and acquire ICTs to support their everyday lives to become members of the city, create a sense of belonging to a community, and to make the urban space their new home?
I will investigate the role of telecommunication policies (that pertain to pricing and usage), geographical factors (move from the home village, location of internet cafes, daily transportation), access to technology (cellphone and internet), and social connections in shaping the inter-personal communication patterns of migrant families in Wuhan, China.
The breakdown:
What does a rural to urban migrant family in China look like?
What kind of strategies to families adopt to become members of their urban home?
How do urban migrant families acquire ICTs?
How do members of an urban migrant family use ICTs to manage their social connections?
How successful are urban migrant families at using ICTs to navigate and negotiate their new city vis-a-vis their desire to become members of Wuhan, China?
How do migrants use ICTs to gain access to social resources and information in the city? (for example, education, healthcare, pleasure, transportation, legal rights, shopping and place of residence)
What are the emergent practices and emotions that are formed to maintain social connections both to back home, but also to those in the host city?
How do ICT policies (in pricing and usage mandates) affect the use of digital tools?
How do parents and children make decisions about technology usage?
