A Gendered Analysis of the Digital Divide in South Africa : Considerations of Gender, Demographics and the Digital Divide Using National Incomes Dynamics Wave 5 Data

This paper is a contribution to the discussion of the gendered nature of the digital divide in South Africa and its implications for socioeconomic welfare under pervasive/broader digital transformation processes. The study uses a descriptive analysis and three composite index variables measuring digital access, socioeconomic conditions, and social support index. It also uses a number of demographic characteristics to assess differences in the distribution of the digital divide between males and females. Generally, males have been demonstrated to perform better regarding digital access when compared to females. While gains in education have a positive effect on females’ digital access, education access is influenced by socioeconomic conditions, while increasingly higher levels of social support particularly government support is associated with a low index of digital performance. There is a need to investigate why public support networks have not been instrumental in improving digital access to low socioeconomic households and individuals