Abstract
The aim of this study was to understand the meaning that South African women attribute to
their work during the pandemic. By employing a generic qualitative approach, ten semistructured
interviews were conducted with South African women who were formally
employed within South Africa both before and during the pandemic. The data collected from
the interviews were analysed through the use of a thematic analysis. The findings from the
study revealed that women had their own motivations for choosing the type of work that they
do. The results also show that work had different meanings for each of the participants, but
that elements such as the challenges that they face on an organisational or personal level as
well as the support that they receive, play a role in the meaning that they attribute to their
work. Furthermore, the findings suggest that there are more positive feelings surrounding
what the future meanings of work could be post-COVID. The results of this study further
highlight possible implications and recommendations for organisations to take head of in an
attempt to ensure that women are accommodated in the workplace after being hit by such a
disastrous pandemic.
Keywords: Meaning, meaning of work for women, women, South African women, pandemic,
COVID-19