Given the documented challenges that women working in the mining sector face, SRK Consulting – which has over the years played a leading role within the mining sector in creating a supportive culture for women – believes that the transformation required in the industry is about fostering a working environment that attracts and retains women professionals across the various disciplines of the industry.
Historical concerns around work conditions and the competitiveness of the mining sector have been complemented by a growing number of other issues. Today, an overarching goal is to find ways by which the mining sector can promote better women representation in the industry.
The challenges that women face in the mining sector, comments Sarah Skinner, principal hydrogeologist at SRK Consulting, depend very much on the work they do and where they are based. The experience of a consultant, for example, will usually be different to that of an underground mine employee, she says.
“In some situations, women still experience anxiety about their personal safety when working, while in others they may feel that they are ‘tolerated under sufferance’ and not given the respect they deserve in the workplace,” says Skinner. “The transformation that is required is really about fostering a work environment that is attractive to women and one that recognises their contribution. Women also often place a heavy burden of expectation upon themselves, trying to meet an onerous range of responsibilities from family and motherhood, to their careers.”
Vis Reddy, MD of SRK Consulting, believes that sexist attitudes still endure in some workplaces, undermining the progress of women in certain professions. “Employers need to recognise that cultural issues may also affect the professional environment, and must deal with this proactively. This bias can lead to women’s input not being taken seriously, as they are not recognised and accepted as equal partners in the workplace. This status quo needs to be challenged so that glass ceilings can be broken,” says Reddy.
