The use of ICTs by indigenous women in the Anglican Diocese of Natal in South Africa : a curse or a tool of socio-economic empowerment?
Ken Dennis Chisa, Ruth Geraldine Hoskins · 2016
This study explores the ways in which indigenous women in the Anglican Diocese of Natal in South Africa use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to meet their information needs in order to empower themselves. Data was obtained from indigenous women in twenty parishes of the Southern Episcopal Region of the Diocese. The survey results signify that problems of access and exclusion are still predominant amongst indigenous women in the Diocese. For example, while only few of the respondents reported using modern ICTs, such as computers and the internet, more than half of the respondents (57.5%) reported challenges ranging from affordability to distance and time. In addition, the study showed a clear link between educational level and the type of ICTs used. This correlation also informed the information needs and purposes for these women. This signifies that ICTs, in isolation, are insufficient for significant benefits to emerge. The study identifies information ethical challenges and contextualised recommendations are proposed.