Photo Essay: Bosnian women miners still go strong They're a
legacy of communism - a group of hardy women working deep
underground in Bosnia's aging coal mines. They're set to retire
in three years, marking the end of an era. In communist
Yugoslavia, authorities wanted to promote gender equality and
encouraged women to attend schools and get jobs instead of
staying home and raising kids. Factories filled with a new work
force, and it was not uncommon to see women working as coal
miners. Despite technology dating back to 1986 and the risk of
accidents - more than 70 people died in the 1970s in two
separate incidents - the 10 women in Breza, northwest of
Sarajevo, seem to love their jobs. They enjoy the banter with
the 500 or so men. The shafts and elevators echo with laughter
and tales of grandchildren. Paying around 500 euros ($675) a
month, mining offers a stable income in a country with almost 30
percent unemployment. Many younger, female colleagues work in
the administrative office above ground - but Sakiba