Embracing a Feminist Approach in the Extractives Industry: Paving the Way for a Just and Inclusive Future
Paul Matshona
Introduction
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need for inclusivity and gender equality across all industries. The extractive industry, encompassing mining, oil, and gas extraction, is no exception. As we celebrate Women’s Month alongside International Women’s Day, it is crucial to discuss driving change and embracing a feminist approach within the mining and extractive industry. By challenging existing power dynamics, redefining gender roles, and prioritizing women’s agency, a feminist perspective holds immense potential for transforming the industry into a more equitable and sustainable sector. This article delves into approaches to redefine and reimagine the extractives industry.
Situational Analysis
Global Statistics
According to the Women and the Mine of the Future Global Report, women are underrepresented in the mining industry worldwide. Sweden leads with 25% female participation in total mining employment, while other countries range from 9% to 19%, highlighting a significant gender gap in the sector.
African Statistics
Across Africa, women represent only 8-17% of the mining industry, with an average of around 12.5%. In South Africa, women make up just 12% of the mining industry. Despite some progress, such as an increase in women’s representation from 10% to over 17% in South Africa between 2015 and 2020, achieving gender equality and full inclusion of women in the mining industry remains a challenge. Efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusivity are crucial to empower women in this vital industry.
Efforts in Promoting Gender Equality
Efforts are underway to promote gender equality in mining, with initiatives like the International Labour Organization (ILO) promoting dialogues in Senegal focusing on social justice for women in mining. In Zimbabwe, women constitute around 23% of registered miners, with initiatives like Zimbaqua providing equal employment opportunities. However, challenges persist, including limited access to mining licenses due to high costs and bureaucratic hurdles.
Sustainable Development (SDG 5)
Aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) on gender equality, initiatives in the mining industry aim to empower women and promote inclusivity. Companies committed to the SDGs can benefit from improved relationships with governments and communities, better access to financial resources, and long-term sustainability. Prioritizing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors is essential for the sector’s sustainable future, leaving a positive legacy by enhancing livelihoods and environmental conditions in host communities.
Redefining the Mining or Extractives sector
The feminist approach to mining aims to redefine the industry by highlighting women’s agency and challenging the traditional perception of mining as predominantly male-dominated. Women have made significant contributions to the sector historically, emphasizing that mining is not exclusively masculine labor but an inclusive space where women play vital roles. This perspective seeks to broaden society’s understanding of mining and promote gender equality within the industry.
A feminist critique of mining from a postcapitalist perspective questions the exploitation of natural resources and marginalized communities inherent in the prevailing economic system. Rethinking the foundations of mining through this lens, challenges the principles that drive mining practices, aiming for a more equitable and sustainable approach that prioritizes social justice and inclusivity.
Feministic Approach to the Extractives Industry
Redefining Mining: Unveiling Women’s Agency Traditionally
Mining, traditionally perceived as a male-dominated industry, is undergoing a transformation through a feminist lens that emphasizes women’s agency in mining. At the core of this empowerment model lies agency, which denotes the ability of women and girls to take intentional action and strive towards objectives without fear of violence or retaliation. The fundamental manifestations of agency encompass decision-making, leadership, and collective engagement. These elements do not merely constitute agency; instead, they represent avenues through which women and girls can actively exert their agency in their daily lives. This feminist approach aims to challenge the prevailing perception by highlighting women’s historical contributions to the sector, showcasing mining as an inclusive space where women have played significant roles alongside men. The role of women is often pointed towards sex work and service provisions such as canteen work. The pillars of the model lie in decision-making, collective action, and leadership (Figure 1)
Women and girls demonstrate agency in decision-making by actively influencing and making choices, as well as setting and pursuing goals. This empowerment is particularly crucial in key decisions that impact their present and future, spanning both private and public domains. Such decisions often involve intricate processes of negotiation and compromise. Empowered decision-making for a woman or girl involves utilizing her voice to shape significant choices and being equipped to navigate and act upon a diverse range of options available to her, thereby enabling her to assert control over her life and contribute to shaping her own future.
Women and girls participate in collective action by uniting in solidarity and leveraging their voices to instigate change within institutions and power dynamics. This collective action serves as a potent mechanism for societal transformation and plays a foundational role in empowering women and girls at a broader societal level. Various factors influence a woman’s capacity to engage in collective action, such as her social capital derived from her network of connections and her freedom to move safely and unrestrictedly within her community. These elements collectively shape a woman’s ability to actively participate in collective endeavors, advocate for change, and contribute to reshaping societal norms and structures. Leadership serves as a potent manifestation of agency when women and girls actively lead and inspire social change, engaging in governance to enhance the status of both themselves and other women and girls. The increased participation of women in leadership roles is correlated with a myriad of benefits that extend beyond individual empowerment, positively impacting society as a whole.
Women in mining associations such as Zimbabwe Association of Women in Mining Associations(ZAWIMA) Women in Mining South Australia (WIMnetSA) Women In Mining South Africa and Women In Mining UK (WIM UK) provide significant avenues to promote women’s agencies in the extractives sector. For instance, ZAWIMA, promotes women’s agency by advocating for their participation, representation, leadership, and inclusive empowerment within the mining sector. Through initiatives like ZAWIMA, women in Zimbabwe have been able to access equal employment opportunities, develop their skills, and improve their economic empowerment within the mining industry. The organization plays a crucial role in providing training, support, and opportunities for women to succeed professionally in mining, enabling them to advance through the ranks, acquire leadership skills, and compete equally with their male counterparts. By creating an environment that accommodates women’s needs and offering training programs that equip women with the skills and knowledge to work on the same level as men, ZAWIMA contributes significantly to enhancing women’s agency in the mining sector.
Postcapitalist Critique: Rethinking the Foundations
A feminist critique of mining adopts a postcapitalist perspective to scrutinize the industry’s practices. This critical view challenges the exploitation of natural resources and marginalized communities within the current economic system. By questioning profit-driven principles guiding mining operations, such as prioritizing profit maximization over social and environmental concerns, feminists advocate for alternative models that prioritize social justice and environmental sustainability. At the core of the future of mining operations is social sustainability, which entails engaging and working together with communities.
Gender Roles: A Central Role in Planning for Transition
In transitioning away from coal and other carbon-intensive resources, a feminist approach emphasizes the central role of gender in planning processes within the extractives industry. By integrating diverse perspectives and experiences into decision-making processes, policies can be tailored to address gender-specific challenges faced by women in these industries. This includes ensuring equitable access to training opportunities, advocating for equal pay, and promoting safe working conditions for all workers.
Feminization: Integrating Gender in Extractive Environments
Feminist initiatives aim to integrate gender inclusivity into various extractive environments by leveraging women’s struggles and contributions. Recognizing the unique experiences and needs of women in these industries is crucial to addressing gender-based discrimination and fostering inclusivity. Supporting women-owned businesses, establishing mentorship programs, and encouraging women’s participation in leadership positions are key steps toward creating a more diverse and inclusive extractives sector.
The Role of Training and Education: Empowering Women in Extractives
Central to implementing a feminist approach is recognizing the importance of training and education in empowering women within the extractives industry. Investing in comprehensive training programs accessible to all genders is essential for enabling women to actively participate in extractive activities. This includes developing technical skills, providing leadership training opportunities, and promoting gender-sensitive educational curricula that challenge traditional gender norms prevalent within the industry.
Conclusion: Paving the Way for a Just and Inclusive Future
Embracing a feminist approach within the extractives industry offers significant potential for driving meaningful change by challenging existing power dynamics, redefining gender roles, prioritizing women’s agency, and incorporating gender perspectives into decision-making processes. Through targeted policies, initiatives, and investments in training and education, women can be empowered to contribute actively to sustainable development while breaking down barriers that impede progress toward gender equality. Together, let us forge a path where women’s voices are not only heard but valued and celebrated within the extractives sector, fostering a more just and inclusive future for all stakeholders involved.