Challenging Gender Stereotypes in the Media

“Women miners toil for R1200 a day”, reads the headline of a front page article in the Star, South Africa’s widest circulation daily. But, the sub heading goes on, “pioneers who have broken into a man’s world are not complaining”. Really?

At one level, this story is big news for gender equality. South Africa’s economy is built on the gold mines. Its history of migrant labour-of men leaving women in the rural areas to eke out a living while they live in single sex hostels on the mines-is based on this reality. This is the first time that women have ever gone down mine shafts. This could change a nation’s whole history, its socio-economic realities with their profound gender implications.

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