As mining employers plan their future hiring requirements, workforce diversification to make best use of all available sources of talent (women, new Canadians and Aboriginal peoples), is one key component of an HR strategy.  While many companies are reporting successes as a result of diversity planning, as an industry, mining still lags behind the labour force’s average in employing women. According to Ramp-up – A Study on the Status of Women in Canada’s Mining and Exploration Sector, (published February 2010) the participation of women in mining was just 14 per cent in 2006 (compared to 47 per cent for the labour force as a whole).The issue is complex, to tackle it fully employers must consider working practices, family support and culture.  In 2012, Carleton University released The Pathway Forward: Creating Gender Inclusive Leadership in Mining and Resources.  A key finding from this report is that “…workplace culture places a significant amount of pressure on female employees, who feel they must prove themselves by working harder [than men].”

This upcoming webinar, So You Think You’re Tough: Getting Serious About Gender in Mining, offers a fresh perspective on gender in mining and discusses the importance of looking at the practices of men in these highly masculinized workplaces and going beyond traditional, static notions of gender and masculinity versus femininity.

Presented by Dr. Dean Laplonge, a leading researcher in the field of masculinity studies in the resources sector, the webinar discusses how, in seeking to address the “problem” of gender in their workplaces, resource industries tend to fail by simply aiming to get more women on board. He argues that a much needed shift in thinking and organizational culture can help the mining industry shed its macho reputation – an approach that will help employers start to see more women (and more different kinds of men) pursuing careers in mining.

To read the full presentation summary, click here.

To join the webinar on Tuesday, February 5 from 2-3 p.m. EST, please click here or copy and paste this URL into your web browser: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/226736725.