The impact of mining on women: lessons from the coal mining Bowen Basin of Queensland, Australia

Abstract

The select indicators of gender equity from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census 2006 reveal that women of the mining towns of the Bowen Basin region of central Queensland are at a substantial social and economic disadvantage to men. Through a review of select social science literature on mining communities the paper examines work, family and community structures and processes that promote and sustain patriarchy in mining communities and within households that could negatively influence mental health and relationship wellbeing of women in mining towns. This is a relatively neglected field of inquiry in the social impact assessment processes of large-scale mining in Australia. The paper suggests areas of research and policy initiatives to enhance women's economic self-sufficiency, gender equality and wellbeing.