It has been reported that women make up 30% of the global artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) workforce. Furthermore, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2016) reported that women comprise 10% of Asia’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) population, 20% in Latin America, and 40–50% in Africa. The literature contains numerous accounts of sexual violence, physical abuse, and other forms of discrimination against these women. On the one hand, throughout sub-Saharan Africa, women are taking enormous risks to engage in ASM and, once involved, expose themselves to even more dangers. Conversely, despite facing significant challenges, numerous women engaged in ASM perceive the risks as a worthy endeavor and as a tool for economic empowerment. Conversations with Zama Zama women and other key informants highlight the rich diversity of women’s experiences in this field. These differences and nuances should be considered when researching the matter and when developmental initiatives are developed to support the formalization process. This chapter gives an overview of the overall challenges women face in the sector, ranging from the division of labor to gender norms, restricted access to capital and resources, and specific health and safety issues, including the issue of sexual harassment. The concluding part of this chapter includes the experiences of some Zama Zama women for whom artisanal mining is seen as a viable livelihood and a means of economic empowerment.