By now you are probably wondering what are the odds of women spearheading a male-dominated industry, such as maritime industry. The chances are somewhat low but possible. While the industry does not have a historical background of women being involved, they are more welcoming in the 21st century. According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the world has 1.2 million seafarers, and of that percentage, only two percent are women. In 1988, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), developed a gender programme for institutions to facilitate female students to be equipped with the necessary skill-sets to gain employment within the maritime sector. Women are leaving an indelible impression within the maritime industry, and can contribute so much more once given the opportunity.
There are several reasons that have hindered women from becoming involved in the maritime industry. Traditionally, people were of the perception that women should refrain from doing a “man’s job”. The support that women received from friends and family when they chose a career path along the lines of a seafarer or something maritime-related came across as demeaning. The ideologies of society allowed us to think that women should strike a balance between household chores and family, rather than accomplishing their dreams, and taking up space in the world.
A woman chances of getting employed within the maritime industry was twice as hard as her male counterpart. Even though this career path is rarely known among women, the barrier made it even more difficult for women to advance or be given leadership positions within the sector, as their competences and capabilities were always questioned. There were many shipping companies that were not willing to hire women even if they are qualified. With the lack of career opportunities within the maritime sector, women were forced to switch profession, and in turn they developed a mental block against becoming a seafarer or spreading awareness to younger women who are not aware of the career path.
Today, women have surpassed these barriers. More institutions have opened their doors to women within the maritime industry. The Caribbean Maritime University in Jamaica has trained several women to be experts within the field, who have worked on international cruise lines, and continues to do so. The IMO Council has formed numerous organizations geared towards raising awareness about women within the maritime industry. It is these initiatives that ensure that there are opportunities for women to ascend within the industry. And as such, we must continue to play our part, in advancing the career prospects for women in the maritime industry.
