Women’s Challenges in the South African Information and Communication Technology Sector: Findings from a Qualitative Study

Abstract

The South African Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector is a fast-paced and fast-growing sector in which demands are constantly increasing and changes are frequently being introduced. It is challenging to stay up-to-date in IT in the face of family and life demands. The study discussed in this article aimed to investigate the challenges women face in the IT sector in South Africa and illuminate some of these challenges for the benefit of women desiring to work in this sector. A qualitative research methodology was used to gather information on women in the South African IT sector. Semi-structured interviews with guiding questions, including open-ended questions, were conducted with thirty women employed in the sector to ascertain their roles. Almost all of those interviewed indicated that they had experienced challenges in the work environment. Most of the participants have considered leaving their IT careers at some point in their working lives. The three main motivators for participants to consider leaving were family responsibilities, opportunities in other sectors, and considering an entrepreneurial opportunity. The foregoing challenges that women have to deal with are similar to those faced by women elsewhere in the world and in other male-dominated industries across the globe. The results can be used to adapt various organizational practices and to develop suitable work-life balance and human resources strategies to create flexible workplaces that attract, motivate and retain highly appreciated women.