Vroulike inwoners van myndorpe : ʼn Gevallestudie uit Emalahleni

• Published in: Tydskrif vir geesteswetenskappe 2019-12, Vol.59 (4), p.657-670
• Main Author: Pretorius, Anmar
• Format: Article
• Language: afr ; eng
• Subjects: Arbeidsmagdeelnamekoers; Besoedeling; Crime; Domestic violence; Emalahleni; Huishoudelike geweld; Kwesbaar; Labour force participation rate; Mining towns; Misdaad; Myndorpe; Perceptions; Persepsies; Pollution; Unemployment; Vroue; Vulnerable; Werkloosheid; Women
• ISSN: 0041-4751; 2224-7912
• DOI: 10.17159/2224-7912/2019/v59n1a15

Women in mining towns: A case study from Emalahleni In South Africa, the role of women is increasingly recognised and more and more women are appointed in prominent positions of the public sector. Despite these trends, certain groups of women can still be regarded as vulnerable. The role of women in mining towns is a prominent theme in Australian literature. Without denying the positive economic impact of mining, these studies also focus on the social impact of mining on communities. Lockie et al. (2009) describes the consequences of an influx of “strangers” into mining towns. The communities experience increased levels of crime and lose their earlier sense of belonging. According to Hijkowicz et al. (2011), increased mining activity leads to increased inequality in communities. Some reap the benefits of new and high-paying job opportunities, while others miss out if they are not employed by the mines. The position of women in mining towns is the focus of Sharma (2010). Her findings indicate that women do not benefit from mining activities to the same extent as men do.Their health suffers, and they are deemed to be on a lower level than men. Women are therefore dependent on their male partners both socially and economically.Suid-Afrikaanse vroue kry toenemend erkenning en word meer gereeld aangestel in prominente openbare posisies. Nogtans kan sekere groepe vroue steeds as kwesbaar beskou word. Australiese literatuur fokus gereeld op die rol van vroue in myndorpe. Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur oor die onderwerp is dun gesaai. Hierdie artikel poog om die leemte in die literatuur te vul deur te fokus op data uit drie verskillende soorte onderhoude wat in 2017 in Emalahleni gevoer is. Dit blyk dat vroulike inwoners van dié myndorp wel as kwesbaar beskryf kan word. Eerstens op ekonomiese gebied, waar hul werkloosheidskoers baie hoër en hul arbeidsmagdeelnamekoers baie laer is as dié van hul manlike eweknieë. Tweedens is hulle baie minder tevrede met hul lewenskwaliteit. Vroue wat aan die hoof van hul huishoudings staan, is baie meer bewus van huishoudelike geweld en gesondheidsprobleme weens besoedeling, en toon baie minder vertroue in hul mede-inwoners.