Destabilising masculinities: perceptions on the gendered division of labour in the mining sector in Phalaborwa, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This study has drawn from thirty two interviews of men and women employed in the mining sector for a minimum of three years. The theory of masculinities underpins making sense of the persisting, highly skewed, gendered division of labour and inequality in the mining sector. The snow-ball sampling method was employed to select participants. Content analysis was used to analyse data. The study shows that the mining sector remains highly masculine oriented. Women are still underrepresented in various sections of the mining sector. The study shows changing perceptions with the majority of participants believing that women are equally if not more capable than men, even in areas that have traditionally been considered a male preserve. However, some men, who work in seemingly dangerous areas of the mine, expressed that working in the mining
sector is dangerous and unhealthy for women. Furthermore, most female participants decry that the protective clothing in the mines is still designed to suit the male body and that there are no sanitary facilities to accommodate women’s needs especially in the mineshafts. Lastly, some participants highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment in the mines which victims are afraid to expose. The study recommends the need for the development of a gender policy that should guide mainstreaming of gender in every component of the mining sector system. This should include the development of a recruitment policy that should take into consideration affirmative action measures to increase women representation in mining; a sexual harassment policy that has proper implementation strategies; and sanitary facilities and uniform that will suit gender needs