Abstract
The study aimed to understand the role of women’s inclusion in the ICT sector to pave the way for access to equal economic opportunities. The theoretical framework is based on social inclusion theory and it serves as the conceptual underpinning that sheds light on the multifaceted nature of women's inclusion and its profound significance in society. Utilising a qualitative research methodology, this study delves into an examination of secondary data through content analysis to address the research inquiries and fulfil the outlined objectives. The information generated from the data was examined in-depth and synthesised to produce this study’s findings and meet the objectives. The study found that women’s inclusion and empowerment in the ICT sector were hindered by gender stereotypes, lack of access to finances, and the gender digital divide. The significance of including women in the South African ICT sector states that women’s inclusion can increase economic growth and productivity levels, and address poverty and gender inequality. In addition, the inclusion of women in the ICT sector was found to be the key to increasing economic growth, closing gender disparities, and alleviating poverty in society. Ultimately, women's inclusion is a vehicle through which they can actively participate in the ICT sector, enabling empowerment across social, economic, and political domains.
In light of these findings, this study recommends the institutionalisation of gender inclusion within the ICT sector. It further advocates for the harmonisation of policies across local, provincial, national, and global levels to facilitate the seamless integration of gender inclusion within the ICT sector.