Hands that build, hearts that tolerate: experiences of female apprentices in Ghana’s informal apprenticeship training system

Although recent policy reforms have increased female enrolment in technical and vocational education and training (TVET), particularly in occupations traditionally dominated by men, the everyday experiences of women during their training remain largely neglected. This study explores the experiences of informal female apprentices in Ghana from the perspective of gender performativity theory. This qualitative study utilizes a phenomenological research design and analyzes data using a content analytic framework. The findings revealed that the experiences of female apprentices in Ghana’s informal apprenticeship training system can be explained by gender and occupational choice; gender norms and workplace behaviors; gender and eco-financial independence; and gender and emotional labor. The paper concludes by highlighting an urgent need for policy and practical interventions that reduce gender stereotypes, promote respectful workplace behaviors, and reduce emotional labor for female apprentices in Ghana’s informal apprenticeship system.