Abstract
Attracting and retaining Black women participation in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industries is necessary to improve economic parity and ensure the empowerment of Black women to promote gender and racial equality. The ICT sector being male dominated has led to the underrepresentation of Black women in ICT industries. The study aimed to identify the challenges Black women in cloud and software engineering face in the ICT industries in Johannesburg. Utilising purposive and snowball sampling techniques, nine Black women actively engaged in cloud and software engineering roles, along with two key informants working as talent acquisition recruiters within the ICT sector, were selected. Semi-structured interviews were conducted through online platforms like MS Teams and telephonic discussions, to gain insights into the obstacles faced by these women in their professional careers.
The findings revealed multiple challenges and barriers that contribute to Black women's underrepresentation in these fields. These include limited access to opportunities, societal cultural barriers hindering interests to be in the field, career progression, insufficient mentorship and representation, bias and discrimination in the workplace, and a shortage of opportunities for skill development. In order to promote an inclusive environment and Black women's active involvement and retention in ICT, it is crucial that these barriers and challenges are addressed. This will advance racial and gender equality in the industry.