Women in Maritime: Gender Equality, its Challenges and Opportunities

<p>The global maritime industry, traditionally a male-dominated field, face significant challenges in achieving gender equality. The reports reveal that women make up less than 2% of the global seafaring workforce. This reflects barriers to recruitment, retention, and career advancement for women. A recent study undertaken by two of this paper’s authors—shows that technological advancement on board ships might hold the possibility of reducing some of these barriers and establishing incentive for women to take up seafaring. Building on this research and with the aim to gain a deeper understanding of women's work experiences amid a backdrop of rapid digitalization and automation, we did a study that explored the multifaceted problems faced by the women in the maritime industry. Based on a comprehensive methodology, including qualitative and quantitative data collection, the results highlighted several challenges facing women including a masculinized culture, harassment and safety issues, work-family balance, wage disparities, absence of mentorship, physical and mental well-being concerns. Many of these were identified as among the major hindrances that deter women from taking up maritime career. However, it was also suggested that emerging technologies can mitigate some of these barriers and foster a more diverse maritime workforce by reducing physical demands and facilitating remote operations. The key recommendations of the study include significant policy interventions, promoting cultural change, harassment combat, reinforcing mentorship programs, and offering equitable career progression opportunities. This study by reinforcing its commitment to gender equality aligns with the IMO’s Women in Maritime Programme and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5. By foregrounding actionable trajectories towards a better gender-equitable maritime future, this research findings can serve as a valuable resource for maritime industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and policymakers. We call for continued research into the intersection of gender and technology, emphasizing the requirement for empirical data in guiding effective policies and practices that will transform the maritime industry for generations to come.</p>