Mining’s push for gender diversity threatened by ‘Andrew Tate’ effect
A belief that women are being promoted based on gender, rather than ability, has permeated to middle management and boardroom level, according to some female leaders.
Deshnee Naidoo has spent her career climbing the ladder in mining and feels the mindset change towards women has been “phenomenal”.
But lately, the former head of Vale Base Metals, a nickel and cobalt producer, has noticed a worrying backlash. When candidates from diverse backgrounds secure jobs, some men in the industry have started using the acronym DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — in a derogatory reframing: “Didn’t Earn It.”
