The Effect of Technology on Gender Roles: A Case Study of Dzivarasekwa Extension Federation Homestead, Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study examines the multifaceted effects of technology adoption on gender roles within the Dzivarasekwa Extension Federation Homestead in Harare, Zimbabwe, a peri-urban settlement characterized by evolving socioeconomic dynamics. Drawing on data collected from 120 households through mixed-methods approaches including structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews conducted between January and June 2024, this research investigates how mobile technology, information and communication technologies (ICT), and household appliances influence traditional gender divisions of labor, decision-making authority, and economic empowerment patterns. Findings reveal paradoxical outcomes: while technology access has expanded women's economic opportunities through mobile banking (72% of female respondents) and digital entrepreneurship (45%), persistent digital gender divides remain evident in ICT skills acquisition (31-point gap), device ownership disparities (58% male vs. 42% female), and technology-enabled domestic burden intensification. The study documents that 68% of households report technology has altered decision-making processes, with 54% indicating increased female participation in financial decisions facilitated by mobile money platforms. However, socio-cultural barriers including restrictive gender norms (reported by 76% of female participants), limited digital literacy, economic constraints, and unequal access to technological resources continue to impede transformative gender equality outcomes. This research contributes empirical evidence to technology-gender scholarship in African urban contexts and provides policy recommendations for leveraging technology as a tool for sustainable gender equality advancement in Zimbabwe.