Women leading change: re-shaping gender in Ghanaian mines
2020 (English)In: International Journal of Development Issues, ISSN 1446-8956, E-ISSN 1758-8553, Vol. 20, no 1, p. 113-125Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose:There is growing attention towards inclusive mining to make an economic case for gender equality and diversity in the industry. Available literature lacks sufficient empirical evidence on the subject matter in Ghana. Therefore, this paper aims to understudy women miners in Ghana and document their role in recent change regimes in mine works gender profiles. An observed change that is stimulating a shift in background dispositions leads to increasing number of women taking up mine jobs.
Design/methodology/approach: In working towards achieving the aim of the study, both qualitative design and a multiple case study approaches are deployed. Four multinational Ghanaian mines and a mining and technology university were used to understudy the women miners and their role towards a change in mine work gender perspectives.
Findings: The results showed a regime of “ore-solidarity movement” (women in mining – Ghana). A kind of solidarity identified conventionally as a social movement in active resource and self-mobilization, engaged in a symbolic contestation for change of the status quo (dominant masculinity cultures) in furtherance of gender equity and inclusion in milieu of mine works reforms in Ghana.
Originality/value: The study is of high scientific, political and public interest to better understand women’s movements in the mining industries in Ghana and to frame them theoretically. It offers solid empirical evidence on roles women miners play to ensure gender shape-shifting and liberalizing the mining space for women’s participation. This move towards inclusive mining implies poverty eradication among women, work towards achieving sustainable mining, competitiveness and assurance for gender-driven social innovative mining.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2020. Vol. 20, no 1, p. 113-125
Keywords [en]
Social movements, Equal opportunities, Gender equality, Change regimes, Mine works, Women in mining-Ghana
National Category
Gender Studies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-53910DOI: 10.1108/IJDI-09-2019-0167Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85094939291OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-53910DiVA, id: diva2:1545737
2021-04-202021-04-202022-11-08Bibliographically approved