Women and ICT in South Africa: Mental Models on Gender and ICT in Marginalised Communities

Abstract

There is a dearth of nuanced understanding of women’s ICT usage and their own perspectives and worldviews – mental models – on a possible intersection between gender and ICT in their communities. This research offers a qualitative analysis of the views of women in three marginalised communities in South Africa. The study follows a phenomenological approach and relies on in-depth semi-structured individual interviews with women diverse in age, education and employment status. The findings indicate varied perspectives of a digital gender divide in their communities. Where such disparities are identified by women, there is a divergence in opinions as to the causes thereof, ranging from perceptions of males as innately more competent, to socially constructed gender norms influencing ICT activity. In shedding light on the mental models of ICT held by women, this research can contribute to the design and implementation of gender-sensitive digital inclusion strategies targeted at women in marginalised communities.