Gender Inequality in the Construction Field

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Discussion
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

The number of employed females in the United States construction industry grew significantly by over eighty percent from 1985 to 2007 despite being lower for the most part. Nevertheless, due to a loss of more than two million construction employment opportunities from 2007 to 2010, there has been a sudden drop of working women in that sector (Lekchiri and Jesse 575). Since peaking in 2007, above three hundred thousand female employees left the industry in a span of three years.

Whereas women make up only nine percent of United States construction workers, the total number in 2010 exceeded eight hundred thousand. This included those in managerial, administrative, professional as well as production roles and positions (Lekchiri and Jesse 575). An estimate of two hundred thousand belonged in the production line, for example, plumbers, laborers or electricians. It is important that the main actors in the sector understand that gender equality can help reduce the issue of shortage of skill that exists in that field. This paper argues that despite the construction industry being a male dominated field for a long time and suffering from skill shortage as a result, it is currently accommodating more women now than before.

Discussion

Construction Industry as Male Dominated Field

The construction sector is a male dominated area and the issue presents a great challenge for equal chances for females. For instance, in a country such as the United Kingdom, there is a very low participation rate for women. This is despite the sex composition of the labor force throughout the nation showing a substantial change in the last two decades (Lekchiri and Jesse 576). The workforce has witnessed a three percent and more than forty percent increase among male and female workers respectively. Based on the Construction Industry Training Board, the latter only consist of nine percent of the workforce. This shows that construction continues to be a most male dominated sector. A survey discovered that they are confronted by numerous hindrances, starting with issues in joining the profession and capturing top positions in the organizational hierarchies (Lekchiri and Jesse 580). Even though they now comprise more than half the British labor force and their number in construction training is overall increasing, they are still underrepresented.

Lack of females in the construction field has been an issue for worry for several years. Some of the studies conducted to investigate the matter have failed to pinpoint the factors that emerge against more women participating in the sector and specifically recruitment (Morello et al.). The industry is currently busier than it ever was or been for more than ten years. It is however encountering a problem of shortage of skill in craft as well as manual trades such as plumbing, bricklaying, and painting, and at the professional level, quantity surveying and estimating and engineering.

The issue concerning lack of females in the industry has become more prominent in recent times thereby attracting attention from even governments due to the possible shortage of skill the industry faces. Thus, some of them are examining the methods of empowering women into conventionally men dominated fields (Lekchiri and Jesse 584). Several programs have been started to better the current situation as well as raise awareness such as females working in the construction committees and as role models (Lekchiri and Jesse 590). Though investigators have focused on ways to improve womens participation in the workplace, the goal appears to solve the labor resources crisis and insufficiency in skill than to better equal chances for females. In spite of the number of recent recruitment programs, the sector has failed to show great progress in recruiting more females.

Women Changing the Face of the Construction Industry

Despite being a male dominated industry, women are changing the face of construction. From specialist supplier to main contractor boardrooms, women can be seen now at every level of what was conventionally a male-dominated sector. It was not long ago that employment opportunities were seen as strictly only for men (Naoum et al.). Nevertheless, thanks to a thorough overhaul of the image of the industry and numerous programs to challenge stereotypes, females currently account for twenty-nine percent of the labor. According to Women in Construction, the figure which is the highest it has ever been, is anticipated to continue rising further to close to fifty percent. This shows that construction firms have realized the diverse advantages of hiring women.

Numerous have established recruitment drives to empower females into the sector. Based on an online survey, near half of females now view their employers as supportive. Additionally, their number in top positions has grown from six percent to sixteen percent in a span of ten years from 2011 (Naoum et al. 04019042). Nevertheless, in spite of the changing attitudes, the industry is under great pressure to build other three hundred thousand homes annually so that they keep up with the growth in population (Naoum et al. 04019042). This means that one more million workers are thus required to cater to the demand and up to fifty percent of the new workforce could possibly be females. Construction organizations have been introducing programs to empower more women at every level but multiple campaigns have as well aided in boosting numbers.

The different government and business-led initiatives have assisted in increasing the number of females in construction but so have leading figures who shared a history of their professional journeys. Nicole Dosso is one such individual and in 2006, she was honored by the United States National Association of Professional Women in Construction for her exceptional contribution towards rebuilding the site (Lekchiri and Jesse 591). Another notable female is Roma Agrawal who has worked in London before as a structural engineer (Lekchiri and Jesse 591). She notes that encouragement from her educators resulted in her desire to follow her career path.

She claims that it is essential for career advisers, teachers as well as role models show young females that they can excel in conventionally male dominated areas. In spite of the increasing number of role models at the senior positions in the industry, there is still insufficiency of women in other jobs. Females account for only two percent of the manual jobs, a portion that has only improved by one percent in a decade showing stereotypes still exist. Significant strides have been achieved in various construction areas but employers still need to guarantee the gender imbalance is being addressed at every level to bring equality.

How to Solve the Issue of Low Women Participation Using Ethos, Logos, and Pathos

Ethics in business is highly encouraged despite many companies and personnel engaging in unethical practices. Ethos, logos and pathos are Greek terminologies that explain the essence of ethics and which can help improve the issue of women participation in the construction sector (Lekchiri and Jesse 593). For instance, ethos which represents character prompts the top leaders in the sector particularly in the companies to possess and portray a character that embraces all genders in the workplace. Logos which means principle prompts them same individuals, who have the power to change the face of the industry further, to have guiding values that promote diversity. Lastly, pathos which stands for emotion ensures that gender equality and diversity is encouraged in the sector to prevent shortage of skill.

Conclusion

Construction is a male dominated area and the issue presents a great challenge for equal chances for females. For instance, the participation rate for women is very low. This is despite the sex composition of the labor force showing a substantial change in the last two decades. The workforce has witnessed a three percent and more than forty percent increase among male and female workers respectively. Based on the Construction Industry Training Board, the latter only consist of nine percent of the workforce. This includes those in managerial, administrative, professional as well as production roles and positions. This shows that construction continues to feature the male gender more than the other.

However, there has been growth experienced especially between 1985 and 2007. The trend has continued and it can be seen that women are changing the face of construction. From specialist supplier to main contractor boardrooms, women can be seen now at every level of what was conventionally a male-dominated sector. It was not long ago that employment opportunities were seen as strictly only for men. Nevertheless, thanks to a thorough overhaul of the image of the industry and numerous programs to challenge stereotypes, females currently account for twenty-nine percent of the labor. The paper also reveals that ethics in business should be highly encouraged. Employers in the industry should avoid discriminating against female candidates during recruitment as it is unethical and can lead to shortage of skill in the sector.

Works Cited

Lekchiri, Siham, and Jesse D. Kamm. Navigating Barriers Faced by Women in Leadership Positions in The US Construction Industry: A Retrospective on Womens Continued Struggle in A Male-Dominated Industry.European Journal of Training and Development, vol. 44, no. 6/7, 2020, pp. 575-594. Web.

Morello, Anne, et al. Exploratory Study of Recruitment and Retention of Women in the Construction Industry.Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice, vol. 144, no. 2, 2018, pp. 04018001. Web.

Naoum, Shamil George, et al. Gender in the Construction Industry: Literature Review and Comparative Survey of Mens And Womens Perceptions In UK Construction Consultancies. Journal of Management in Engineering, vol. 36, no. 2, 2020, pp. 04019042. Web.

Women in Construction Overview | Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Www.osha.gov, Web.

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