We need to fight the male contractor stereotype and help women make careers in the construction industry.
“Building ran in the family,” she says. “My father and my grandfather were both builders, so it was in my blood. But like most girls, I never thought about whether it could be a career option.
“When I was a kid, I asked my father for pocket money and he said I had to work to make it. I was lucky that he was very forward-looking and saw me as another worker – he knew I could lend a hand. I kept coming back to earn more and I started to learn more about it. When I went to university, I studied for what I thought was a qualification for my career. But in reality I was already a well-trained building contractor; I already had my career in my pocket.
Gender diversity in the construction industry is shockingly low. Women make up only 11% of the total workforce, but even that number includes many who work behind desks, often in construction, management or secretarial roles. On the construction sites themselves, an estimated 99% of the workers are men. The UK has the lowest percentage of female engineers in Europe and only 14% of first-year engineering and technology students are women.
Holly Porter, who leads a network group for women construction workers, Chicks With Bricks, explains, “The industry has long been stagnant in terms of the ratio of women to men. There are certain areas that are doing a lot better, like the design industry. But if you look at the skilled trades, the proportion of women is absolutely minimal.
Part of the problem is sexism; Research shows that more than half of female construction workers said they were treated worse than men because of their gender. However, Porter suggests that encouraging young people not to think of this job as an all-male job is more of a challenge.
“I think it’s all about perception,” she says. “The reason I started Chicks With Bricks was because you just couldn’t find female role models; they weren’t made known. There was an element of, ‘When you’re a woman in construction, you keep your head down, don’t talk about it and pretend you’re a guy’. ”
Tuttiett is constantly confronted with stereotypes. “People are always amazed at my job. That amazes me. Our country was ruled by Margaret Thatcher, but when I say I’m a building contractor people are amazed.
She adds, “I don’t mind – it’s actually nice because people are usually pleasantly surprised. And as long as people stop learning about women in the industry, that won’t change. ”
For Alethea Watson, the key to improving gender diversity in the construction industry is making the industry more attractive to young people. Watson is mentoring a project called Volunteer It Yourself (VIY), which combines volunteering and home improvement by helping young people learn construction skills while working on community building projects. She says she was also committed to being a role model for young women who want to get into the construction industry.
“A lot of the young people we work with don’t know what to do with their careers and some have problems with social issues and the like. With this project you can test the water, try it out and see how it is.
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“For example, on the first project I did, there was a young girl whom we introduced to the masonry trade, and she noticed that she really liked it. She was a strong personality anyway, and I think that gave her some hope for her future. She has now acquired skills that she can use in her job. ”
According to the sponsor Wickes, 38% of the participants in the VIY program have so far been female. This is well above the national average for the industry; the mentors attribute this in part to the community aspect, where young people are encouraged by their friends to participate.
However, the national picture remains bleak. When Conservative Minister Nicky Morgan met Chicks With Bricks earlier this year, she admitted, “We clearly have a long way to go. Stereotypes still persist. Many people still think of a job in the construction industry of a man in a safety vest on a construction site who wears his pants a little lower than he should.
“Women make up half of our population, so it is right that they should be able to fulfill their potential and compete in jobs throughout our economy, including construction.
Despite everything, there is a reason to stay positive: As Porter emphasizes, there is also an opportunity in every challenge: “The fact that there aren’t many women in the construction industry makes the difference – you have the opportunity to be a role model . ”
She adds: “You get stuck in your job if you take advantage of the fact that you are a woman – you have to be good at your job. But one shouldn’t be ashamed of being a woman; you should feel good when you are yourself.
