Their work.
Their strength.
Their impact.
Eyewitnesses
Women in Mining
In nine video portraits, women share how mining has shaped their lives. As mine surveyors or energy electronics technicians, they carved out their own paths in a male-dominated workplace. As wives and daughters, they navigated everyday family life amid shift work, a sense of community, and concern for their loved ones. Their memories recount professional challenges, personal hardships, and a unique sense of community. To this day, many of them remain committed to keeping mining culture alive. The videos bring their perspectives to light and preserve stories that are just as much a part of mining as the work underground.
"I've never experienced that sense of togetherness again."
"Back then, there weren't that many women in technical professions, especially not in the mines."
"For us, life in Velsen was a step up."
"In mining, the miners had to be able to rely on each other completely. That went without saying."
"I'm always afraid when he leaves in the morning that he won't make it back."
"My brother had to start working in the mines when he was 14."
"My husband worked shifts, so on some days we could only communicate through notes."
"She had both feet firmly on the ground and knew exactly what she wanted."
"The memory of mining should be preserved because it is part of our state's DNA."
