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This paper examines the complexities of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Africa, drawing from qualitative interviews with 38 women miners and 9 non-miners in Ghana. Our findings revealed five themes; 1) sex for mining jobs/roles and trading space protection, 2) physical aggression towards women miners during work, 3) sexual exploitations and manipulations, 4) everyday sexual harassment at mine sites: body touching and sexist comments, and 5) emotional/psychological abuse– which underlie women’s experiences of SGBV in ASM spaces. These findings have implications for women’s empow erment in ASM as discussed in the paper.

Sexual and gender-based violence in artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana: Implications for African women’s socioeconomic empowerment and well-being

Resource Key: QSQVRV6R

Document Type: Journal Article

Creator:

Author:

  • Francis Arthur-Holmes
  • Kwaku Abrefa Busia
  • Enoch Boafo Amponsah
  • Jennifer Dokbila Mengba

Creators Name: {mb_resource_zotero_creatorsname}

Place:

Institution:

Date: September 2025

Language: en

This paper examines the complexities of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Africa, drawing from qualitative interviews with 38 women miners and 9 non-miners in Ghana. Our findings revealed five themes; 1) sex for mining jobs/roles and trading space protection, 2) physical aggression towards women miners during work, 3) sexual exploitations and manipulations, 4) everyday sexual harassment at mine sites: body touching and sexist comments, and 5) emotional/psychological abuse– which underlie women’s experiences of SGBV in ASM spaces. These findings have implications for women’s empow erment in ASM as discussed in the paper.

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