Abstract
It is becoming increasingly evident that in Africa, leaders, and various agents of change in the construction industry are insistent on enhancing the image of the industry. This is an attempt to attract, recruit and retain a high-quality work force capable of effectively and efficiently responding to the changing times, management delivery systems and ownership profiles in the construction industry, and in fact, other facets towards sustained growth in economic development and for other socio-economic benefits. It is also widely known that women who pursue education and careers in construction fields have limited opportunities to experience or showcase their chosen career paths and vocations. However, it is pertinent to emphasise that women who have opted for this non-conventional industry should be given the same opportunities as their male counterparts. In this way, they would fulfil and attain their own career goals while standing a better chance to obtain salaries substantially higher than they would earn in any traditional female occupation. Hence, this study begs the question: “What are the experiences of women in the construction industry in Nigeria?” The study aims to determine whether women are discriminated against or are offered the same fair, and equal opportunities as their male counterparts through a representative sample from the north central region of the construction industry in Nigeria. The data used in this study have been collected through detailed literature reviews and a well-structured questionnaire which were disseminated to active construction professionals in the north central region of the Nigerian construction industry. The questionnaires were administered to 60 women and 60 men. This includes 15 women and 15 men from each of the selected 3 States (Benue, Kwara and Niger) in the north central region and 15 women and 15 men from Abuja (which is the Federal Capital Territory- FCT and not a State), making a total of 120 respondent professionals in the construction and built environment industry. This allowed for gender balance and a controlled coverage, encapsulating the experiences of the women and the opinions of the men in the construction profession from a specific spatial or geographical perspective. Of 120 questionnaires administered to the respondents, 101 were returned. From the 101 returned vi questionnaires, only 95 were useable, representing a 79.2% response rate. Data from this study were analysed using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) conducted using SPSS version 26. In cases where the possibility of discrimination against women was discovered in the Nigerian construction industry, the study recommends practicable solutions to resolve the problem. Some themes uncovered by the study answer the questions often posed by male counterparts about whether women belong in the construction industry, whether a construction site is a suitable working environment for women, whether women in the construction industry can balance their personal life, family life, and careers, and still contribute significantly to the construction industry. The findings of the study show that societal conservatism, socioeconomic status, representation of women, religious/cultural factors, physical factors, stereotypical factors, and policies are the drivers of discrimination against women in the Nigerian construction industry. The study also reveals that exploiting the feminine advantage, adopting male characteristics, taking mentorship from men, forming small support groups, building networks within the workplace, and being nurturing towards colleagues are some of the coping strategies adopted by women in the Nigerian construction industry. Furthermore, the study uncovers that the leading effects of discrimination against women in the Nigerian construction industry are less innovation by women, high stress levels, victims’ depression, narrow talent pool, workplace conflict and a narrowed perspective on output. Lastly, the study discloses that the incentive, gratification, and recognition of motherhood approaches are ways to reduce discrimination against women in the Nigerian construction industry. The findings of the study reach the conclusion that in the Nigerian construction industry, women are victims of discrimination. Therefore, the study recommends a further investigation, focused on interviewing both women and men using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to a better understanding of each participant’s unique experience in the Nigerian construction industry.
M.Tech. (Quality and Operations Management)