Women and Technology in South Africa: A Case of Four Communities in Kwazulu-Natal

Abstract

This research contributes to a greater understanding of the linkages among women’s roles, responsibilities, and the use of and access to technologies in marginalized rural communities in KwaZulu-Natal. How poor rural women conceptualize technologies, and the ways in which they use their knowledge and skills to develop, modify and adapt the techniques and technical processes are examined. Numerous studies have focused on rural women and their livelihood-sustaining activities, and these have revealed that women are the main consumers of small-scale technologies. In this study, a critical concern raised is whether women’s knowledge of and experience with technology are adequately incorporated into development debates and initiatives at the local level, especially in an environment where the decision makers tend to be men. This study examined the relationships among rural women, technology use and technology development, taking into consideration existing indigenous knowledge. Research was undertaken in four marginalized communities in KwaZulu-Natal: Adams Mission, Platt Estate, KwaXimba and Makomoreng. In data collection, the emphasis was on gender sensitivity and the ability to capture the complexities of rural women’s activities. The study reveals that notions of technology use and access tend to be highly gendered and at the same time differentiated among women.