Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya

This paper explores factors affecting consumers' adoption of supermarkets in a nation whose retail environment has been dominated by traditional markets and small independent stores for generations. In-depth interviews with Libyan shoppers (n = 32) indicate that social acceptability is a major...

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Main Authors: Sehib, K., Jackson, Elizabeth, Gorton, M.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2013
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54265
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author Sehib, K.
Jackson, Elizabeth
Gorton, M.
author_facet Sehib, K.
Jackson, Elizabeth
Gorton, M.
author_sort Sehib, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This paper explores factors affecting consumers' adoption of supermarkets in a nation whose retail environment has been dominated by traditional markets and small independent stores for generations. In-depth interviews with Libyan shoppers (n = 32) indicate that social acceptability is a major factor governing adoption of supermarkets. In Libya, food shopping has traditionally been a task for male household members, with markets regarded as inappropriate spaces for female alone or with other women. However, the safer, cleaner and less crowded environment offered by large supermarkets has contributed to women feeling more comfortable shopping for food, and henceforth being able to shop as independent consumers. This has been welcomed by both men and women; traditional culture, rather than constraining the spread of supermarkets, may act as a facilitator. For practitioners, a critical factor underpinning the development of supermarkets in Libya will be the degree to which they offer a more female-friendly and safer shopping experience than traditional retail outlets.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-542652017-09-13T16:11:45Z Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya Sehib, K. Jackson, Elizabeth Gorton, M. This paper explores factors affecting consumers' adoption of supermarkets in a nation whose retail environment has been dominated by traditional markets and small independent stores for generations. In-depth interviews with Libyan shoppers (n = 32) indicate that social acceptability is a major factor governing adoption of supermarkets. In Libya, food shopping has traditionally been a task for male household members, with markets regarded as inappropriate spaces for female alone or with other women. However, the safer, cleaner and less crowded environment offered by large supermarkets has contributed to women feeling more comfortable shopping for food, and henceforth being able to shop as independent consumers. This has been welcomed by both men and women; traditional culture, rather than constraining the spread of supermarkets, may act as a facilitator. For practitioners, a critical factor underpinning the development of supermarkets in Libya will be the degree to which they offer a more female-friendly and safer shopping experience than traditional retail outlets. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54265 10.1111/j.1470-6431.2012.01135.x Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. restricted
spellingShingle Sehib, K.
Jackson, Elizabeth
Gorton, M.
Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya
title Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya
title_full Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya
title_fullStr Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya
title_full_unstemmed Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya
title_short Gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from Libya
title_sort gender, social acceptability and the adoption of supermarkets: evidence from libya
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/54265