Gender, the state, and informal self-employment : Perspectives from the mobile telecommunication industry in Cameroon

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the intersection of formality, informality, structures of power, gender, and social norms in the mobile telecommunication industry in Cameroon, and to investigate the reasons for the over-representation of informal self-employed women at the base of the mobile telecommunication industry in the country. Design/methodology/approach This is a qualitative study using interviews and observations. Findings Cameroon’s mobile telecommunication industry is a “spaghetti bowl” where formality, informality, gender, structures of power, and social norms are intertwined. In Cameroon’s mobile telecommunication industry, there is no static division between formality and informality, rather, there is a connection between formality and informality to ensure the unity and totality of the airtime credit distribution system. Self-employment in the mobile telecommunication industry is gendered. Originality/value Analysing the intersection of gender, class, formality, informality, social norms, and structures of power in the functioning of the mobile telecommunication industry in the Cameroon is original.