Abstract
This study demonstrates that historically, men have dominated the private security industry (PSI). However, in recent years, women have increasingly been employed in the private security industry, under certain terms and conditions, e.g., when the client specifically requests female security guards. This study is important in that it fully highlights women’s struggles in a male dominated industry and their management of household and family obligations. The purpose of this study is to highlight the experiences of the female security guards and the challenges they face concerning access, shift work and work-family balance. To gather data, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten female security guards employed at a security firm in Johannesburg. The sample of the participants was made up of ten female security guards, of which three were married, four were single parents, and three had live-in partners. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the results. Findings suggest that most female security guards experience a level of unfairness, discrimination, bullying, and harassment in their workplace. House chores are usually done by their spouses or children when they are at work, and some develop strategies to tend to their house chores when they knock off from work. In conclusion, despite strenuous work demands, female security guards continue to take on the main burden of household and care labour while workplace challenges persist.