The nuanced tale of Wakenyans wako rada sana!!
The phrase ‘Wakenyans wako rada sana!!’ immediately caught my attention and piqued my curiosity. Having followed Little for a while now, I’ve been intrigued by their product offerings. Their research on Littlewallet encompassing surveys and interviews, revealed one interesting insight. I quote
“We have observed a fascinating usage pattern on Little App. It appears that a significant number of men are topping up their Little Wallets using their MPESA or Bank Cards, specifically to transfer funds to their women’s RIDE wallets. The RIDE wallet within the Little app can only be used for ordering rides.”
My initial assessment of Little’s strategy oscillated between awe and disappointment, stemming from my high expectations. In retrospect, I might not have been entirely fair in my judgment. I expressed my perspective by commenting, ‘Fascinating. Was this sentiment also prevalent among women?’ I further inquired, ‘I’m intrigued to determine if parents are employing the same approach with their children. Could you provide insights on this?’ I intended to explore the potential extension of the product’s utility beyond its male-centric focus and to uncover alternative use cases.
Interestingly, a conversation with a friend, Maureen Amakabane, who runs Nyayo Moms Sokos, an online women’s community. Maureen revealed that not everyone resonates with this particular use case. This realization spurred an introspective question:
Can an app effectively address complex social issues?
Allow me to elaborate on the multifaceted challenges that arise when leveraging technology to tackle societal problems.
- Power Dynamics: Embedded power dynamics tend to persist during development, rendering their eradication a formidable task. These dynamics frequently revolve around hierarchies, such as master-servant relationships and acceptable behavior. Research demonstrates how power dynamics impact workers and undermine their experiences. In the context of the aforementioned scenario, the dynamics of the relationship appear skewed, disadvantaging individuals who are more susceptible to incentives. In other words, it's certainly not your mother, sister, wife, or close relative, right? It is someone you could easily dangle a carrot and they budge.
- Trust Dynamics: Trust is a nuanced factor that is largely established offline. While technological measures can be put in place, people often find workarounds. When an issue doesn’t originate primarily in the digital realm, enforcing solutions or translating the need through technology becomes complex. This increases the likelihood of being impartial or becoming a gatekeeper. If the intention is to serve a singular use case, then kudos. However, if it is for a broader cause, it's time to rethink.
So what next?
When building platforms, it’s imperative to be mindful of the ‘who’ and ‘why.’ Beyond solving specific issues, it is our mission to take a position as product developers. To ask,
“Where do I stand as a product developer and what inherent biases do I bring?”
I think it is time to reconfigure our stance and ensure that we start now making strides towards being human and let our humanity speak out, rather than build with our inherent biases. Let us infuse our creations with empathy and fairness. The tech industry faces stern criticism for neglecting to address these biases, evident in instances like algorithms exhibiting racial prejudice. I imagine the unsurmountable task of trying to dissuade the team from focusing on this specific data-driven use case. The obvious answer would be, “Hey, there is data that backs our claim!”
My Take
Inclusive decision-making is a start. The crux of the matter lies in historical social issues, especially those concerning gender disparities, necessitating conscientious attention and dedicated efforts for change. An illustrative anecdote from research on women in platform livelihoods, features Sharon (a pseudonym), a worker who faced discomfort while delivering food to a half-dressed client who insisted on her getting into the house, ultimately bearing the cost herself after the client declined payment citing, food was not delivered. The platform sided with the client, igniting queries about equity and accountability. I open the floor to developers et al, Let’s start having an honest conversation about some of these social issues.
If anything, this post serves as a clarion call to redirect the narrative, nurture inclusivity, and actively forge a path toward a future where our technological breakthroughs are propelled by a diverse spectrum of viewpoints. Does this imply securing a seat at the decision-making table? Does it involve broadening participation to incorporate more perspectives? Probably.
Furthermore, it’s crucial to emphasize that this is not exclusively a woman’s concern. Numerous scenarios intersect with themes of power and trust. Consider the relationship between parents and their children, employer and employee. It speaks about formal versus informal governance. There are some unanswered questions for instance, “Who holds the authority to dictate the usage of funds?” Equally important is the fact that individuals may not always divulge the full truth about their circumstances. For instance, a request for money for food might entail various underlying factors, such as repaying a loan or purchasing personal items like menstrual pads, which might be uncomfortable to openly address.
I acknowledge these intricacies demand deeper exploration. However, due to the depth of this subject, I opt not to delve further at this moment. Until we connect again, adios.”
