Women urged to seek jobs in forestry
DEPUTY Minister of the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Makhotso Sotyu has encouraged young women to pursue careers in the forestry sector.
“Young women are needed to prepare and take up opportunities offered in the sector, including senior positions, starting their own businesses and board participation,” Sotyu said during a webinar on Friday which formed part of the department’s Women’s Month celebrations.
“The experiences of women in relation to forestry have been markedly different from those of their male counterparts, making gender issues pertinent to forestry. Some of the issues women are confronted with relate directly to the manner in which forestry is defined,” Sotyu said.
Sotyu said that while forestry is generally considered to be “men’s work”, this stereotype shut women out of these job opportunities and discouraged them from joining the industry.
“Such a portrayal might lead to a more positive impression of forestry among the general public too, painting a picture of forestry as being more than just cutting down trees,” she said.
Cara-Jean Petersen, student engagement manager at Feenix, an online crowdfunding platform for university students, reiterated the under-representation of women in the industry.
“Unfortunately, there is still an under-representation of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) related jobs in South Africa and globally,” Petersen said.
“Studies have shown that empowering women in STEM jobs adds tremendous value to families and communities, as women reinvest their earnings in education, health and food security,” she said.
Statistics from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) have shown that only 23% of STEM talent is female.
However, Lungile Gumbi, a female student at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), is going against the grain to pursue a career in the STEM industry.
Gumbi is a final-year Master of Science (MSc) Agriculture student majoring in horticulture.
Horticulture is the study of plants, mainly for food consumption, gardening and decorative purposes.
“Farming is who I am. As a little girl I remember watching my grandfather farm.
“I told myself that I’m going to become a farmer to feed those in need and ultimately follow in his footsteps,” Gumbi said.
“While agriculture may be considered a male-dominated industry, technology and innovation have empowered women to enter the industry and play their parts in society,” she said.
Unfortunately, the UKZN student encountered financial difficulties, which is when she decided to approach Feenix.
To date, Gumbi has been able to raise R6 483 17 of her goal of R50 622.83, which she hopes to raise throughout the remainder of her school year.
“I want to inspire young women in rural and underprivileged communities to follow their dreams and assure them that they can achieve anything through hard work and dedication,” Gumbi said. | African