Mining is an industry which has always been male-dominated, regardless of geographical location. There have been positive steps which have helped to integrate women into this industry, but they continue to be under-represented as mining is still largely viewed as a man’s domain.
Traditional values, norms and cultural practices do exist prohibiting women from access to, use of, or control over land and other productive resources. These norms are mostly based on the belief that women are not physically and intellectually endowed by Providence to wisely manage and utilize resources, natural or otherwise. This is utter nonsense as nothing could be further from the truth! Women the world over are proving capable of even managing an entire nation. There are numerous examples of brilliant women prime ministers and presidents all over the world.
The contribution that women make in social and economic progress in society is significant. The role of women in mining is currently being recognized more than ever through gender audits carried out recently. Simple things such as making sure there is a friendly work setup encourages women’s active participation in the mining sector.
Coast Development Authority prides itself in providing equal opportunities to both male and female sexes in all development projects at community level. During a recent documentation visit, CDA met Jacqueline Kazungu who works at ‘Kwa Chokwe’ Coral Block Mining Site, Kilifi County.
Jacqueline, 38, a widow and mother of 5 children, was among the first female to join CDA’s mining project way back in 2013. Jacqueline’s smile tells it all. She appreciates working at the mining site because the money she makes provides food for her family, access to medical care and helps her pay school fees for her children. She says with time, perceptions of women in the industry have changed, but it is a slow process for women to get ahead. “Every section you get into, at least for the first six months or so, people are still trying to get to know you. It’s just up to you to show them that you are capable. After 4 or 6 months, when they are used to you, they no longer see you as just a woman but as their colleague”, she states.
The truth is that although there is still a relatively small number of women working in the mining sector because conditions not favourable to them as they are to men. These women are paving the way for employment and gender equality, and their rising numbers are beneficial to young women who, in the future will find it easier to work in the mining industry due largely due way-makers who have gone ahead such as Jacqueline.
For Jacqueline, the biggest challenge she has faced has been juggling family and work duties. In order to succeed, it is expected that coral block workers expend tremendous energy and spend a great deal of time at work.
“If you don’t put that much effort into it, you will not be considered to be a tough woman capable of working at the site. No matter what you do, or where you are, if you are giving the best that you possibly can, then you are being successful,” she adds.
For social and cultural reasons women were hitherto not allowed to mine coral blocks because the nature of work was considered too risky for health and safety of women. Men miners preferred that they busied themselves at home and farm with domestic responsibilities. However, changes in society brought about by social-economic circumstances have forced women into coral block mining.
Women miners are here now; we can neither ignore them nor pretend they do not exist. Up until now women miners have stayed silent and invisible but due to societal pressures and other circumstances beyond their control, they are now emerging from obscurity and presenting themselves in a workplace that was once deemed unsuitable thereby provoking attention and recognition.
