Women in Africa’s maritime space

Ensuring greater gender diversity will create a more dynamic maritime sector in South Africa and on the continent.

The maritime environment is male-dominated and women’s inclusion into the maritime sector remains a challenge. There are a number of cultural, structural and workplace barriers that render the maritime environment unattractive to many women. Comprehensive changes need to take place, not only within the maritime sector but also within societies, to create conditions conducive for women’s inclusion and meaningful participation. This report presents recommendations for South Africa that could apply to other African countries.

About the authors

Denys Reva is a research officer in the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding Division of the ISS. He has a Master’s degree in Security Studies from the University of Pretoria.

Liezelle Kumalo is a researcher in the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding Division of the ISS. She has an MA in International Relations from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Picture: GCIS/Flickr