Rural women: communication, empowerment and the facilitating role of ICT
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Date
2005
Authors
De Wet, Gideon
Jonker, Helanie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Communication Science, University of the Free State
Abstract
Many scholars describe empowerment as an ongoing, fluctuating, lifelong
transformation and liberation process involving positive changes in the individual's
psychological well-being (self-esteem and self-concept), the development of meaningful
social relationships (friendship, and informal and formal support) and the pursuit of
positive experiences. This article argues that Information Communication Technology
(!CT) can play a facilitating development communication role in the processes of
empowerment and thus development of rural African women. The study was conducted
at the International Computer Driver's Licence (ICDL) Centre in rural South Africa
with 30 conveniently selected women with a grade 12 educational level. The aim was
to establish the following: How do women become empowered through communication
facilitation processes as experienced at the ICDL Centre in order to contribute towards
their own development?
The most evident empowerment aspects were:
• personal fulfilment, improvement of quality of life, more self-confidence, and
could get a better job and higher status in the community;
• close relationships within family and a higher level of emotional support were
crucial; and
• role models are predominantly female, especially the maternal figure who places
a very high value on education.
In all of these findings communication was experienc~{i as central to the process of
empowerment.
Description
Keywords
Rural African women, Empowerment, Communication, ICT (Information Communication Technology)
Citation
De Wet, G., & Jonker, H. (2005). Rural women: communication, empowerment and the facilitating role of ICT. Communitas, 10, 153-170.