| The bateyes of the Dominican Republic are extremely poor and isolated villages that house Haitian migrant sugarcane cutters and their families. These communities lack the most basic of modern conveniences including electricity, running water, sanitation facilities, proper food and nutrition supplies, and more. Despite this, digital communication has found its way to the people of the bateyes as cell phones are common, smartphones sightings are becoming a regular occurrence, news and information are flowing through access to the Internet, and many residents are now active participants in social media networks. This ethnographic research examined two villages--Batey 50 and Batey La Papita--and studied how new technology is impacting communication behavior. Findings show some of the key factors involved in the spreading of digital communication in the bateyes of the Dominican Republic, as well as the powerful effect that this technology is having on the social identity of residents. |
