Social Sustainability in a Gender-Biased Occupation
(2023) In Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics p.19-32- Abstract
- This paper discussed construction industry’s ongoing battle with gender equality. Growing awareness of social sustainability responsibility has led to the mounting importance of human resources in the organisations. One perspective involves the focus on gender equality. Today women’s participation in the construction industry is still low except in times of acute labour shortages. This disproportionate gender distribution leads to the construction industry losing competent and skilled resources. The study aim is to identify challenges faced by women employed in the construction industry, factors that make them stay (pull factors) and factors that make them leave (push factors). To achieve this aim, a quantitative study was adopted. A... (More)
- This paper discussed construction industry’s ongoing battle with gender equality. Growing awareness of social sustainability responsibility has led to the mounting importance of human resources in the organisations. One perspective involves the focus on gender equality. Today women’s participation in the construction industry is still low except in times of acute labour shortages. This disproportionate gender distribution leads to the construction industry losing competent and skilled resources. The study aim is to identify challenges faced by women employed in the construction industry, factors that make them stay (pull factors) and factors that make them leave (push factors). To achieve this aim, a quantitative study was adopted. A web-based questionnaire was sent out via social media. The web-based questionnaire was open for 3 months, and a total of 124 women had responded. In general, the majority of results from the study are in agreement with the literature. The strong pull factors identified are as follows: interesting and challenging work and good work relations. The push factors are as follows: not the dream job, unsuitable job, poor working conditions/environment and offensive behaviour. The output of this study is the practical strategies on how to attract and retain women in the construction industry: improvement of image through marketing; exposure about the industry through education, female role models; eliminating macho culture, improvement of the working conditions and facilities; and flexible working times to accommodate those with family. With these recommendations, the industry can achieve better gender equality, and this, in turn, may transform it by encompassing a wider set of ethical considerations, including sustainable construction. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3ce0d49d-d098-4941-90a7-a2e7c23cd635
- author
- Aulin, Radhlinah LU and Rytter, Vera
- organization
- publishing date
- 2023
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- social sustainability, gender biased, women, construction, retaining
- host publication
- SDGs in Construction Economics and Organization : The 11th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organisation (CREON), May 18-20, 2022 - The 11th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organisation (CREON), May 18-20, 2022
- series title
- Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics
- editor
- Lindahl, Göran and Gottlieb, Stefan Christoffer
- pages
- 19 - 32
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85172181362
- ISBN
- 978-3-031-25498-7
- 978-3-031-25497-0
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-031-25498-7_2
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 3ce0d49d-d098-4941-90a7-a2e7c23cd635
- date added to LUP
- 2023-09-06 09:03:04
- date last changed
- 2024-04-20 02:57:37
@inproceedings{3ce0d49d-d098-4941-90a7-a2e7c23cd635,
abstract = {{This paper discussed construction industry’s ongoing battle with gender equality. Growing awareness of social sustainability responsibility has led to the mounting importance of human resources in the organisations. One perspective involves the focus on gender equality. Today women’s participation in the construction industry is still low except in times of acute labour shortages. This disproportionate gender distribution leads to the construction industry losing competent and skilled resources. The study aim is to identify challenges faced by women employed in the construction industry, factors that make them stay (pull factors) and factors that make them leave (push factors). To achieve this aim, a quantitative study was adopted. A web-based questionnaire was sent out via social media. The web-based questionnaire was open for 3 months, and a total of 124 women had responded. In general, the majority of results from the study are in agreement with the literature. The strong pull factors identified are as follows: interesting and challenging work and good work relations. The push factors are as follows: not the dream job, unsuitable job, poor working conditions/environment and offensive behaviour. The output of this study is the practical strategies on how to attract and retain women in the construction industry: improvement of image through marketing; exposure about the industry through education, female role models; eliminating macho culture, improvement of the working conditions and facilities; and flexible working times to accommodate those with family. With these recommendations, the industry can achieve better gender equality, and this, in turn, may transform it by encompassing a wider set of ethical considerations, including sustainable construction.}},
author = {{Aulin, Radhlinah and Rytter, Vera}},
booktitle = {{SDGs in Construction Economics and Organization : The 11th Nordic Conference on Construction Economics and Organisation (CREON), May 18-20, 2022}},
editor = {{Lindahl, Göran and Gottlieb, Stefan Christoffer}},
isbn = {{978-3-031-25498-7}},
keywords = {{social sustainability; gender biased; women; construction; retaining}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{19--32}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics}},
title = {{Social Sustainability in a Gender-Biased Occupation}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25498-7_2}},
doi = {{10.1007/978-3-031-25498-7_2}},
year = {{2023}},
}