• In Kenya, only three per cent of the construction workforce is made up of women, according to a survey by Dalberg Group.
•In the United States, women are speaking out on bias through one of the world’s largest social media platforms right now, Tik Tok.
The construction industry is highly male-dominated worldwide.
In Kenya, only three per cent of the construction workforce is made up of women, according to a survey by Dalberg Group.
The survey found that challenges such as gender stereotypes, bias, and sexual harassment are still rife in the sector.
Regardless, women are still charging on.
This year’s International Women’s Day marked on March 8 had the clarion call to Break The Bias.
In the United States, women are speaking out on bias through one of the world’s largest social media platforms right now, TikTok.
Workwear Guru, a US-based work apparel manufacturer, thoroughly analysed Tik Tok Workwear Guru to identify common hashtags used by women construction workers.
In the course of their search, they found out that women were doing more than just posting videos on the platform, they were speaking up and fighting back.
“We reviewed hundreds of videos on TikTok published with #womeninconstruction and #womenintrades hashtags. We mapped out the discrimination women face and the frequent comments they receive in their workplace from the videos,” they said.
Women are exposed to inappropriate comments by male colleagues such as constantly being called ‘Babe’, being asked to wear more makeup, or always getting hit on by old men.
They are constantly objectified by male colleagues, receiving comments such as :
“Wow, you must work out.”
“So how did a pretty girl like you end up in construction?”
“Rough hands aren’t sexy!”
Stereotypes such as ‘women can’t build houses’ also come about with some women being told they would be better at jobs meant for women.
The videos show the women trailblazing and fighting to overcome the bias and bridge the inequality gap in the male-dominated industry.
Image: /WORKWEAR GURU
“Up to 64 per cent of skilled women and 79 per cent of unskilled women in construction feel discriminated against when being recruited as appearance is often the first ‘screener’ to employment. Men’s superior strength is often considered,” the survey said.
Others also reported a hostile work environment when they rejected advances from some male colleagues, especially male foremen and supervisors, either in exchange for a job or paid sex work in lieu of construction work.
“These challenges highly discourage them from staying in the industry, as well as derail their career progression,” the survey concluded.
Workwear Guru recommends that companies need to increase the recruitment and retention of women in construction.
“To retain women construction workers, the companies need to grow the profile of women role models, promote women in leadership roles, and offer equal pay,” they said.
Today, the construction industry is estimated to be valued at $4.4 billion and growing at a rate of about seven per cent annually, according to Dalberg’s survey.
Maureen Gitata of Dalberg said that the Kenyan industry has a high demand for housing at the moment yet the labour force falls short of skilled labour.
“Due to high levels of population growth, demand for affordable housing is high, growing at a rate of 200,000 units per year. However, the existing construction labour force can only supply 50,000 a year,” she said.
Despite the labour gap, there still seems to be little space for women.
Women are continuing to disrupt the status quo and move into spaces traditionally considered to be for men only.
Making the work environment conducive for women in such sectors will help a long way in advancing gender equality.