Java Island, Indonesia, is the world’s most densely populated, with over 150 million people, 30 million of whom live below the poverty line. Unemployment exceeds 7%, and only 25% of youth receive higher education. The society upholds patriarchal norms, often pushing men into low-paying, physically demanding jobs due to a lack of alternatives. In East Java, Mount Ijen’s active volcano, with its acidic crater lake, serves as a sulphur mining site. Miners begin their day around 2-3 AM, climbing 2,600 metres before descending 200 metres into the crater to manually extract sulphur using hammers and chisels. They then carry heavy baskets on a 3-kilometre trek. The treacherous terrain around the crater causes frequent injuries, while prolonged exposure to toxic fumes leads to a high mortality rate from respiratory diseases, with minimal protective gear. Despite the dangers, sulphur mining is considered a high-paying job in East Java, earning miners $10 to $20 for 10-12 hours of work, making it one of the “elite” jobs compared to farm or field work