Executive Summary
Social inequalities of women in the extractive sectors relate to the systemic and pervasive ways in which they are subject to discrimination and disadvantage in many aspects of their lives, including their access to resources, opportunities, and power. This paper focuses on Myanmar’s Rare Earth Elements (REE) mining area in the borderland of Kachin State. It seeks to understand women’s concerns regarding their roles in the REE mining area, to analyze women’s issues, and explore the challenges of social inequality that women experience. The study utilizes a systematic literature review and semi-structured interviews. It shows that women in REE mining sites migrate due to economic necessity and limited local job opportunities, with their decisions influenced by family background and demographic factors.They face systemic gender discrimination, unequal pay, limited job opportunities, exclusion from decision-making, and various forms of violence, exacerbated by the male-dominated industry.