in Technology in Society, 68 by Velicu, A., Barbovschi, M., & Rotaru, I. (2022)

This paper examines the multiple layers of exclusion experienced by Roma teenage mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on how digital, social, and educational exclusion overlap and are perceived by these young women. The study, based on ten interviews with Roma adolescent mothers in Romania, explores whether the pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities in their lives. The findings underscore the need for policies promoting social and digital inclusion, emphasizing the importance of role models to encourage positive change among this often-overlooked group.

While most studies on Roma populations focus on nomadic groups or basic needs, this paper explores how multiple layers of exclusion—social, economic, and digital—affect Roma teenage mothers, a vulnerable group. These young women, who often give birth before 18, face overlapping challenges such as severe material deprivation, disrupted lives, and lack of support.

Roma communities, especially in Romania, face significant barriers to education and digital access. Many Roma children drop out of school due to poverty, long commutes, or family responsibilities, resulting in «educational poverty.» Additionally, 32% of Romanian children live below the poverty line, further compounding their isolation and lack of opportunity.

The pandemic magnified these existing inequalities, with many Roma families facing overcrowded living conditions, job loss, and poor digital access (68% had limited or no computer skills). This study calls for more attention to the digital lives of Roma teenage mothers and how their identities are shaped by their exclusion from mainstream society.

Theoretical Framework

The theoretical framework of the paper builds on the relationship between socioeconomic and digital divides, focusing on how agency manifests within constraints. It refines the digital divide framework by using the Relative Digital Deprivation (RDD) theory, shifting the focus from external perspectives to the subjective experiences of individuals. This approach recognizes subtle forms of empowerment and agency in marginalized groups, such as Roma teenage mothers.

Education influences digital access, skills, and benefits, and those excluded digitally are often also excluded educationally. While most studies focus on individual aspects of digital exclusion, intersectional approaches show that, for instance, Roma girls face higher levels of digital deprivation compared to boys. This includes limited access to smartphones, parental or spousal control, and reduced digital participation.

Helsper’s RDD theory introduces a more dynamic approach, shifting from absolute-objective views of deprivation to relative-subjective ones, focusing on how individuals assess their digital inequalities compared to others. Filters such as expectancy, legitimacy, and capability are key in understanding how individuals perceive their deprivation and their ability to overcome it.

The section on adolescent mothers’ agency discusses how they are often portrayed as powerless and passive due to factors like poverty, lack of skills, and forced early adult responsibilities. However, this article adopts a broader understanding of agency, including subtle or «tacit» forms of agency, as opposed to traditional views that emphasize resistance or autonomy.

The concept of narrative agency is used to show how teenage mothers navigate social norms and stigma in constructing their identities. The article also uses the feminist concept of «positioning» to understand how adolescent mothers’ identities are shaped by competing discourses, such as victimhood and agency.

The paper examines adolescent mothers’ agency during the COVID-19 pandemic, showing how digital inequalities worsened the pre-existing vulnerabilities of disadvantaged groups. The pandemic heightened their challenges due to limited access to essential digital services (e-schooling, e-health), lack of remote work opportunities, and increased social isolation. This worsened the situation for marginalized populations, including adolescent mothers, who find themselves in a dual role of being both in need of help and responsible for caregiving.

Results

The results section examines the digital inequalities among teenage mothers (TMs) through three levels:

• Access: Most TMs relied on smartphones for internet access, primarily for personal use like social media. Internet connection quality was often poor, especially in disadvantaged areas. Financial constraints also limited access, with some TMs depending on others to pay for their connections. There was a fear of device damage, which posed a major restriction.

• Skills and Use: While the TMs claimed to understand their smartphones, their usage was mostly limited to entertainment, maintaining social connections, and communication with partners. Some faced restrictions on their digital activity from partners, but they found ways to bypass them. Security concerns were also present, with some TMs managing privacy settings due to past harassment or cyberbullying. In terms of skills, many used the internet to learn practical skills like makeup, hairstyling, and parenting advice, although critical skills like reading product reviews for online shopping were lacking. A few TMs were active on social media, sharing content about their lives and babies.

• Benefits and Negative Outcomes: The main benefits included social validation through platforms like Facebook, where TMs received positive feedback (e.g., likes on pictures). Some used the internet for educational purposes, like learning foreign languages or exploring job prospects. However, negative experiences also occurred, such as a case of revenge porn and regrets over life decisions influenced by online interactions. One TM blamed her early marriage on internet accessibility, expressing regret for not continuing her education.

Overall, digital technology provided TMs with social connectivity and learning opportunities, but also exposed them to vulnerabilities like harassment and limited their critical digital skills.

The next section examines the subjective experience of digital inequalities among teenage mothers (TMs) during COVID-19, focusing on how they compared their digital skills and access to others. Four different indicators were studied in order to gain insights on the matter: lack of external role models, device access challenges, changing perspectives during COVID-19, frustration and isolation.

Overall, while TMs had limited digital role models and faced access challenges, the pandemic prompted some to rethink their digital habits and explore new ways of using technology. However, isolation and frustration were also prevalent.

The next section explores how teenage mothers (TMs) negotiate their new status as mothers and markers of personal agency:

• Pregnancy and Motherhood: None of the TMs had initially planned to become mothers, though they did not express regret. Some lacked access to medical services during pregnancy, and many were unaware of their pregnancies until late. Their sexual education was minimal, often deferring responsibility to their partners. The birth experience was often traumatic due to their young age and physical immaturity, and many were not ready for motherhood physically, though they had prior experience caring for younger siblings or other children.

• Navigating Stigma and Relationships: Some TMs faced stigma, particularly in school, though others reported acceptance. Many struggled with abusive or unfulfilling relationships and sought to escape them.. However, they remained in a fragile state between childhood and adulthood, with some TMs still desiring parental care.

• Uncertain Future: When asked about their future, many TMs found it difficult to imagine beyond their current circumstances. Their hopes were largely tied to the well-being of their children, with some expressing a desire to improve their children’s lives but not their own. Others were preoccupied with the need to exit their current relationships.

• Social Media and Empowerment: For some TMs, social media became a form of empowerment, allowing them to assert independence and craft their identities as mothers. However, not all shared this view. TM9, for example, saw social media as a factor that led her into marriage and expressed caution about its influence on younger generations.

Overall, while TMs faced significant challenges, including limited agency and social stigma, they found ways to assert control over their lives, especially through relationships and social media, though their futures remained uncertain.

Discussion and Conclusion

The discussion section focuses on the digital exclusion experienced by Roma teenage mothers and how it intersects with broader forms of social and economic deprivation. To understand how this intersection develops, this study focuses on intersectional exclusion, subjective-relative perspective, the impact of the pandemic and the markers of agency.

Overall, the study presents a complex picture of digital and social exclusion among Roma teenage mothers, showing that while they face significant challenges, they also demonstrate resilience and agency in navigating their realities.

The article is a powerful reminder of how digital exclusion isn’t just an issue of access but also of opportunity in today’s highly internet-based society. As we move more of our lives online, the gap between those with and without access becomes more urgent. Addressing this digital divide is crucial for ensuring that marginalized groups aren’t left behind. It underscores the need for better policies and support systems to address these issues.

If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, I highly recommend checking out the full article. It provides a deep dive into how these young women cope with their challenges and the subtle ways they assert their agency despite significant barriers.

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