Women in construction: how to make the sector more equal

Working in the built environment as a female project professional is still harder than for a male project professional. Bias and discrimination (whether unconscious or overt), lack of flexible working and stifled opportunities make the sector increasingly unequal the closer you get to the top of the ladder.

While it makes sense to understand the causes of this stubborn inequity, what’s more urgent is providing solutions so that more women are tempted to enter the sector and be supported right to the very top.

Building Women: How everyone in construction can win is a book that focuses on the here and now, and what everyone can do to make a positive difference immediately. Author Faye Allen has worked in construction for 30 years as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor. She wrote her book based on research with over 1,000 participants to illustrate women’s lived experiences and workplace challenges – and to offer practical solutions.

Allen wrote the book for reasons borne out of her own experience, from struggles for promotion and pay rises, and issues around bullying and harassment (her advice is to move to a company that will treat you how you deserve to be treated, should your complaint be ignored).

She also wanted to help ramp up the urgency behind the issue of inequality for women.

“I have been frustrated by the lack of change over the years – the situation must change. We have an industry with skills shortages, a leaky pipeline for women and men who are four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. The industry is sick, and I truly believe the only way to resolve things is for it to wake up to what is actually going on.”

Allen gives four key pieces of advice for women who want to get ahead in the built environment:

1. Get a mentor and sponsor who is male to support you

“As the minority in the industry, women need to have male allies who can help open doors and create space for them in their careers,” explains Allen. “Some of the best opportunities I have had in my career have been a direct result of male allies having spoken up for me or having opened the door for me with other men to allow me to progress. They can also call out poor behaviours of other men and help the workplace become more inclusive.”

2. Network with other women

“I didn’t have a network of women when I started in the industry over 30 years ago and it’s something I really wish I’d had,” Allen reflects. “As more women have entered the industry, I have seen how strong networks of women can help support each other and provide advice when you may be struggling, and sadly, because of the industry we are in, there will inevitably be some struggles.”

3. Don’t feel you can’t be you

This is the most personal piece of advice she gives. “Many women have ‘played a part’ to get on and I did it myself in my early career, but the truth is that is just exhausting and it’s not something that is sustainable long term. Just be you.”

4. Remember that inequality is not a problem caused by women

“I have always said women do not need fixing. What needs fixing is the system we are working in. Diversity in all its forms is proven to help innovation and creativity and drive profit, therefore there is no downside to it,” argues Allen. “We have to include everyone in making change happen and I believe men play a big role in helping the industry be better for women, and as a direct result that will make things better for them.”
Allyship is the way forward

“Allyship is something many men I have spoken to have admitted they have been nervous about, but the fact is when men become allies to women it not only improves things for women, but it also improves the culture and workplace experience for men,” says Allen.

“It’s also worth mentioning that 67% of the women I surveyed understand being an ally isn’t easy for men, and we also know mistakes will be made and that’s OK. I provide details of the various types of allies and examples of what men can do in certain situations in the book, as I know having spoken to numerous men in the industry that not knowing where to start can be a barrier,” she adds.

“The only way we will improve things for women is by accepting the issues they face and working together to resolve them, but part of that also means looking after men in the industry as currently many of them are suffering too and it is my belief that we need to make things better for everyone.”

Building Women: How everyone in construction can win is published by ReThink. Don’t forget to listen to APM Podcast’s episode How to tackle the urgent need for gender balance: experiences from the built environment