Women in mining: engaging men in the dialogue

Abstract

For decades women have battled for a place in the mining industry. In South Africa, the newly elected democratic government (1994) initiated a number of actions to redress injustices of the past. Among others, new mining legislation was introduced and enforced, which demands of employers to meet specific targets towards recruiting a workforce that reflects the country's demographic make-up. Various studies have aimed to reveal the barriers and challenges experienced by women regarding their integration into the traditional 'harsh male-dominated' labour force. However, very few studies endeavoured to investigate the challenges experienced by male co-workers in this regard; hence, this research aimed to determine such challenges experienced by male co-workers. A qualitative research design was followed. Data were collected by means of individual and group interviews. From the research it is evident that the integration of women into the core business of mining poses unique challenges to male co-workers. Therefore, top management should embrace and support a clearly articulated vision for gender diversity. It is of utmost importance to involve male employees in the conversation about women in mining to contribute to the sustainable deployment of women in the core business of the mining industry.