Telephonic mechanisms of the emancipation of young women in muslim and christian settings in Cameroon

Through a gendered and comparative approach based on Islam and Christianity, this study analyzes the role of mobile phone in the emancipation dynamics of young girls in Cameroon. Drawing from uses and gratification theory through the “Sociologie des usages”, it posits that the influence of mobile phone is determined by gender and socio-cultural rationales. Although mobile phone is popular among girls and boys, the study unveils female trends with regards to its appropriation. Beyond technological considerations, these female trends stem from socio-cultural factors. Thus, the emancipation of Muslim and Christians girls through mobile phone is not uniform as obtained from surveys conducted in the cities of Ngaoundere and Buea.