Gender Dynamics in the Mining Industry

The mining sector has historically been characterised by a pronounced gender imbalance, underpinned by deeply entrenched ideals of mining masculinities and a gendered division of labour. Men dominate both the labour force and leadership roles, reinforcing organisational cultures that valorise physical strength, risk-taking and hierarchical authority. Women’s entry into the industry has challenged these norms, revealing patterns of exclusion, stereotyping and unequal access to training, promotion and workplace safety. Research highlights how gendered practices are reproduced through recruitment, shift systems and social networks, often marginalising women and other minority groups. At the same time, emerging evidence points to the potential for transformative change: technological innovations, from automation to digital control rooms, can disrupt traditional job roles; policy interventions and diversity initiatives may foster more inclusive cultures. Nevertheless, progress is uneven across regions and company sizes, and persistent power imbalances and unexamined assumptions about gender continue to shape everyday working life in mining.

Research from Nature Portfolio

No recent Nature Portfolio content available.

Research from all publishers

Recent reviews of the field offer a comprehensive synthesis of how masculine mining ideals are embedded in organisational structures and everyday practices. One thematic review maps the evolution of research on gender in industrial mine work, noting a shift from descriptive studies of women’s under-representation to analyses of masculinities, gendered processes and strategies for change. It calls for broader theoretical frameworks, more comparative methodologies and greater attention to men’s roles in sustaining or transforming gender norms. A qualitative study of underground women mine workers in South Africa explores individual motivations against the backdrop of legislative reform and persistent masculine cultures. Participants describe economic necessity, professional aspiration and a desire to challenge stereotypes, while still encountering stigma, inadequate facilities and limited career progression. In Indonesia, a policy study examines the implementation gap between formal gender equality policies in large mining corporations and their actual enforcement in smaller firms. It highlights the need for multi-stakeholder oversight, capacity building and alignment with national sustainable development goals to ensure that women gain equitable job opportunities, safety measures and representation at all levels of industry governance.

Gender Dynamics in the Mining Industry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gender dynamics in the mining industry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Hegemonic masculinity: The dominant cultural ideal of male behaviour that legitimises male power and marginalises alternative masculinities and femininities.

Intersectionality: An analytical framework recognising how overlapping social identities (such as gender, race and class) produce complex systems of discrimination and privilege.

Gendered division of labour: The allocation of work roles and responsibilities based on socially constructed notions of gender suitability.

Organisational culture: The shared values, norms and practices that shape behaviour and decision-making within a company or industry.

Diversity and inclusion initiatives: Programmes or policies designed to increase representation and ensure equitable participation of under-represented groups.

References

1. Gender in industrial mine work and organizations. A review of an expanding research field. The Extractive Industries and Society (2023).
2. Can new technology challenge macho-masculinities? The case of the mining industry. Mineral Economics (2020).
3. An Exploration of Motivations for Women Mine Workers to Work Underground. SAGE Open (2021).
4. Policy and implementation of gender equality in Indonesian mining companies as an approach to achieve the goals of Indonesian SDGS. Cogent Social Sciences (2024).