Manchester Women's Design Group sent out a questionnaire in 2013 to ask women working in the construction and development industries for their thoughts and experiences. Val has put together a presentation with the results and kindly presented this as part of International Women's Day 2014 at Manchester Town Hall.

1. Women in
Construction
Manchester Women’s Design Group
2014

2. Who are we?
Manchester Women’s Design Group are a group of women from all over
Greater Manchester who are enthused about working for and with the
community to highlight and raise awareness of gender issues in the built
environment
We have undertaken projects looking at space and design:
Emotional Mapping
Manchester City Walks
Support for International Women’s Day
Current project – Women in Construction questionnaire

3. Women in Construction
Purpose of questionnaire to:
• Gather views of women who have worked or are currently working
in construction
• Find out the positives and negatives, for women, of the current
working environment
• Share experiences and stories
• Offer some tips to women thinking of a career, or new to the
industry
• Produce a booklet to distribute
• Raise the profile/promote the industry to girls
• Encourage more women to talk about their experiences and
influence change

4. Questionnaire Design
• 23 questions about experiences
• Further 5 personal information (optional) questions
• Majority open questions to encourage qualitative data
• ‘Tell us more’ options
• Distributed via our current links and networks to people in construction
• Aimed at women architects, planners, designers, trades - anyone in the
construction related environment
• Why survey women in construction?

5. Why survey women in construction?
Women in construction - the vital statistics
13% of total workforce
80% in support roles
20% of RIBA members
15% of RICS members
5% of CIOB members
1.2% of site workers
Construction News 2012

6. Survey Results
• 47 responses - 45 respondents women, 2 did not say
• 62% office based
• 4% on site
• 34% both on site and office
• 40% Public Sector workers
• 60% employed in the Private Sector

7. Survey Results
Age of Respondents
Range %
18 – 25 14%
26 – 40 47%
41 – 60 34%
60 plus 5%

8. 0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
45.0%
What area of the construction industry are you in?

9. Do you work in an office, on site, or
both?
Office
On site
Both
62% office based
4% on site
34% both on site and office

10. Survey Results
Proportion of women to men in the office/working environment
(43 responses, 2 of which self employed):
% Women % Respondents
10% and under 15%
15% 5%
20% - 25% 19%
30 - 35% 19%
40% 10%
50% 17%
Over 50% 15%
70% 7%

11. Survey Results
Summary re Proportions of Men to Women:
• Over two thirds of the respondents (68%) said that there were fewer than
50% of women in their workplace in proportion to men
• 17% of women worked with and equal number of men
• In 15% of workplaces there were more women than men

12. Survey Results
Are the same career opportunities available to men and women where you
work?
• 64% Yes
• 15% No
• 21% Don’t know
 Positive that over half feel there are the same opportunities
 Disappointing that just under quarter don’t know

13. Survey Results
• 25% Yes
• 64% No
• 11% Don’t know
Are you sometimes given different jobs or
tasks to do compared with the men you
work with?
Yes
No
Don't Know

14. Survey Results
Are you sometimes given different jobs or tasks to do compared with the men
you work with? - Tell us more:
Positives Negatives
So far treated the same as men Still some preconceptions about ability
Good at different things – utilizes our
strengths
Previously – they thought it was my role
to make the tea
Never a situation where that seemed as
if a male was getting different jobs due
to gender
I’m treated very differently especially as
working mum
I am still at university and I feel things
are pretty even between the sexes
Equally experienced male peers receive
higher budget projects. Males climb the
ladder quicker, in the public & private
sector
I think the workload is distributed evenly
– things are equal
Men are generally assigned bigger
schemes

15. Survey Results
Are you sometimes given different jobs or tasks to do compared with the men
you work with? - Tell us more:
Positives Negatives
Not that I am aware of – I don’t feel that’s
the case but I’ve not really thought about it
In the past – especially making tea in
meetings and doing PR things – but I got
wise to it
People treat me differently, think more
women are attracted to the work I do. Men,
even frail men, will jump up and lift
something for me Positive/negative
In the industry – often the word of the man
was taken but the woman had to get the
boss to back her up to be taken seriously
Director quite forward thinking – gave me
lots of opportunity to develop into the role
(a support role rather than professional role)
Often given the more menial task and
assumed I unable to carry heavy loads even
though have equipment to carry the loads

16. Survey Results
• 32% Yes
• 45% No
• 23% Don’t know
Have you ever experienced disadvantage in the
construction industry because of your gender?
Yes
No
Don't Know

17. Survey Results
Have you ever experienced disadvantage in the construction industry because of
your gender? - Tell us more
Positives Negatives
I have always been on site as an observer
and to ensure grant conditions are being
met – I have not experienced disadvantage
but I have experienced sexism (positive and
negative)
In my old company I was not taken seriously as a
technical person
Quite new to it so not as yet Have accepted that. With no desire to play golf,
many of the men in my team have more
opportunity to build relationships with
clients/prospective clients.
But find doing a good job is just as effective for
repeat work/recommendations
Not that I have been aware of
No. I have experienced an advantage,
especially on site where contractors likely to
be more helpful
Where do I begin - sexual harassment, ignored
for promotion, given lower grade instructions,
made redundant before less qualified /
experienced men

18. Survey Results
Have you ever experienced disadvantage in the construction industry because of
your gender? - Tell us more
Negatives
Massively – town planning and surveying – see my book ‘women in a traditional
male profession’
I have been told that they ‘wanted a male architect’ so that they can be tough on
contractors
It’s a mix. People in shops and construction dismiss me, but as they get to know
me and what I can do – they tend to be incredibly helpful
When I did City & Guilds – one of 40 students – all got apprenticeships apart from
me. When I finally got work I was treated badly by some of my colleagues and my
employer would not make adjustments e.g. changing area, women’s toilets
I was overlooked for promotion because I was on maternity leave

19. Survey Results
Have you ever experienced disadvantage in the construction industry because of
your gender? - Tell us more
Negatives
Declined ½ day release to attend University, although boys studying QS were given
every Friday off. Was told not to be so soft when working up to due date of baby –
women in Africa used to give birth and carry on working. When asked for flexibility
after being given 6 wks maternity leave I was told – you will go on having babies
I was totally discriminated against, especially with contractors, who constantly see
any man as senior and give them extra networking opportunities – e.g. rugby and golf
My general experience is of not being listened to or not being taken seriously in my
role
Site equipment for females not readily available
My male classmates were being paid for work experience when I was not
10 years ago it took a while for employer to support flexible working – it is less of an
issue now
Applied for a job in 1978 as trainees QS. The man interviewing said he could not see
me down a manhole – intimating it was because of my gender

20. Survey Results
Have you ever experienced disadvantage in the construction industry because
of your gender? - Tell us more
Other Comments……
‘Dealing with developers/contractors can be challenging and you have to be
quite clear and supply evidence to back up whatever you say’
‘In the process of getting a job in an architects’ office I was unsure at all as to
whether I was disadvantaged. I would say that as the economy is so unstable
– if there were disadvantages due to gender – females would really suffer ‘
(referred to article http://www.archdaily.com/214742/)

21. Have you had any negative
experiences being a woman
working in the construction
industry?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Yes 51%
No 42%
Don’t know 7%

22. Negative experiences
Struggle to get point of
view across at Exec level -
but don’t think it was
deliberate

23. If treated differently, how often does this happen?
All the time 9%
Frequently 27%
Sometimes 64%
Do you feel you are treated
the same as men at work?
Yes
No
Don't
Know
Yes 59%
No 30%
Don’t know 11%

24. Do you feel you are treated the same as men at
work?
Positives Negatives
Generally treated the same but .. …sometimes get asked to attend interviews
more because I am a woman than my skills/job
Basic premise that we are all equal but…. ….old boy network still exists and very apparent.
This is more so getting the foot on the door than
when in post
Most of the time, however…. Have experienced instances at Board level being
called ‘sweetie’ and there being an old boys club
As a mature architect I am treated equally,
but….
…as a younger architect this was not always so
As soon as they realize I can do my job No, they are favoured
Never My male colleague who was a level below me
would not respond to my requests for assistance
because he only takes orders from men

25. Do you feel you are treated the same as men at
work?
Positives Negatives
At the moment yes as I have a female boss,
but…
…not in previous roles
Most of the time in a local authority setting ,
but….
….not always listened to in private sector
meetings
Not always worse , but different The old adage of ‘work like a dog, act like a man,
dress like a goddess’ still holds tight
Varies in different environments, but
because females may offer an emotional
judgment – may be at risk of being
questioned positive/negative
I have been in work situations where the key
discussions and decisions (allegedly) have been
taken in the men's toilets – put me at a
disadvantage

26. In comparison with your male counterparts do you
feel more, less or equally recognised?
More 5%
Less 30%
Equally 65%
Do you feel you are recognised for
the good work you do?
Yes
No
Don't
Know
Yes 83%
No 13%
Don’t know 4%

27. Do you think you are being paid, or have in
the past been paid, differently to your male
colleagues at the same level?
Yes
No
Don't Know
Yes 25%
No 43%
Don’t know 32%

28. Do you think you are being paid, or have in the past been
paid differently to your male colleagues?
Positives Negatives
Not experienced different levels of pay
Work in local government – low pay for
all!
Told I had reached my salary limit in my role when I
qualified as a chartered accountant and they had no
need for one, I moved into a different role and was
replaced by someone 3 grades higher who was then
funded to do the course I had completed (which was
not needed)
Worked mainly in public sector where pay
scales are same for men and women
Offered less and I accepted without negotiation. I
believe women need to learn how to ask for more.
Paid slightly more than a male colleague
who was at the same level the previous
year – due to general pay cuts
At one stage had to fight to be on the same salary as a
man entering the department doing equal role on the
same grade – despite that I had been doing the role
competently for 3 years
Paid same as men – but in local
government where such differences are
less likely to happen
I know I was paid significantly less than a male
colleague for over 4 years. Even when I gained my
RPTI accreditation and he didn’t, it took 2 years to get
the same pay level, even though he is a grade below
me

29. Are you provided with the right equipment
(including the right size) to carry out your role
including PPE if required?
% No.
Yes 66% 29
No 25% 11
Don’t know 9% 4

32. Have you ever felt isolated working in a
predominantly male environment?
% No.
Yes 33% 15
No 52% 24
Don’t know 2% 4
Never worked in
predominantly male
environment
13% 6

33. Have you ever felt isolated working in a
predominantly male environment?
Positives Negatives
I am happy to work in male environments Meetings with clients often dominated by men
It has occasionally been beneficial to be a woman in a
predominantly male environment – has resulted being part
of some fascinating and cutting edge work, e.g. the
department had a women’s group and worked on gender
issues in relation to planning policies. The work of the group
was valued and women felt supported
Yes can sometimes be a lonely place – when only
woman on Exec Team - but not a problem as I
worked in an organisation where lots of other
women at relatively senior level
Although I do still prefer it to a predominantly female
environment
Sometimes on site I would be sidelined when a
colleague was discussing something – obviously
natural for the men to isolate me – had to be robust
in making sure I was included in the discussions
Difficult to put point across in male environment
Working in metal fabrications – bit overwhelming
having naked calendars on the wall

34. Negatives
All the time
I was always the only woman at committee meetings and the
only woman except for the typists
To begin with I was the only female – didn’t really have a
problem with this in terms of how I worked (more the principle
of it). I didn’t really experience sexism, although there were
quite a lot of sexist jokes aimed at me from people in the office
to annoy me (by people who were just trying to wind me up)
however, it id d get a bit frustrating
Have you ever felt isolated
working in a predominantly male
environment?

35. If you could change one thing in your working
environment (office or on site) what would it be?
Attitudes, beliefs & behaviours:
• Men's attitudes to you as a senior woman in the
organisation – think the reason you got there is nothing to
do with skills
• Assumption of many men that careers are there only to
keep us busy until we have kids
• Equality and the capacity of men to treat women in the
same way they would with male professionals. Give
women same credibility
• That I would have the same place at the table as the others
and deferred to as men do to each other
• Better understanding and zero tolerance of sexual
harassment
• More respect from older male colleagues

36. If you could change one thing in your working
environment (office or on site) what would it be?
Flexible working:
• For parents – especially men. Women's’
careers will continue to suffer if partners
cannot work flexibly in their working hours
• More flexible working arrangements, everyone
talks the talk but in reality very old fashioned
• More open minded approach to flexible
working/job share in management and more
role models for this
• Less working hours – enough time for myself

37. If you could change one thing in your working
environment (office or on site) what would it be?
More women:
• Would be nice to see more female project managers
taking on bigger roles, but they seem a bit younger
than the men so it could just be experience
• More women at senior levels
• Targets for one third women at every level
• More diversity , more women colleagues
• Creation of a female staff network
• Encourage more women to join construction industry

38. Top Tips for survival in the construction
industry
1. Stand by your ethos as a women and if you are treated
negatively, make a stand. Help other women by acting as
mentors or ask role models to be your mentor.
2. Work hard. Make decisions. Be confident. Be confident in your
decisions. Be confident in your ability. Don’t try and be a man.
Don’t try to fit in with the men to gain their respect. Gain their
respect by working hard, making decisions and being
confident.
3. Don't behave like you are in the minority. Act like an equal
and you will be treated like one. Don't put up with sexist
behaviour/comments. Don't make an issue of being a woman
yourself. Just get on with it!!
4. Be yourself, work hard, don't expect to be treated differently
and you won't be.

39. Top Tips...
5. Don't assume that you not getting something is a gender
thing - there might be a good reason for it (however,
sometimes best to check). Don't chop and change as to
whether you want to be treated as 'one of the lads' or as 'the
woman on the team'. This is unfair on colleagues and will not
get you respect. If someone goes too far, tell them, but don't
scream and shout about it. No matter how much you want to
(or how much they deserve it).
6. Listen more than speak. Question if you don’t understand.
Speak slowly to people.
7. Good heels. Good corset (make you stand taller and
straighter). Work hard. Grow a thick skin. Don’t expect to be
handed anything. Be prepared to fight for what you want. Be
twice as qualified as the nearest man. And always smile.
Remember you have something they don't :-)

40. Top Tips...
8. Stop acting like a victim and just do your job.
9. Be yourself and ensure that you are professional. Don't try to
behave like one of the lads - it doesn't work. Communicate
regularly about what you are doing and make sure your
achievements are recognised.
10. Teamwork. Help each other out - strength comes via helping
rather than competition. Visibility. Be visible, don't diminish
your skills. Participate in activities and discussions in the
workplace and the construction community.
11. Fight as hard as you can when you can , if have children be
prepared to take a huge backward step.

41. Top tips...
12. Above all you need to be assertive, to weigh up all the
options and decide what you think is the best course, and then
to express this clearly and firmly. Being assertive does not
come easily to some women, in which case assertiveness
training could be useful. It can also be helpful to 'play act' in
your imagination before an event that you consider might be
stressful. For example, when acting as a group leader I was
nervous about holding the weekly meeting with a dozen
professional staff. So, before the meeting (in the Ladies' loo), I
imagined what it would be like to be a confident group leader,
and then acted within that persona.
13. Trust in your ability and ideas.
14. Stay confident and keep integrity. Network with females
regularly. Employ and work in projects that involve females.
Find inspiring female role models.

42. Top tips...
15. Be confident and know your stuff...but then one would
anyway.
16. Work hard and don't settle for just being ok. Try to be better
than everybody else.
17. Be confident and be clear and do not let others sideline you -
even if you feel uncomfortable - make yourself heard.
18. Focus on your skills and what you can give to the job.
19. Look for empathetic male colleagues. Never compromise
professionalism. Use your female empathy to create good
client relationships. Seek female clients. Remember, half the
world is made up of women, the female perspective is always
relevant in any project. Don't wear skirts on site.

43. Top tips...
20. Women are supposed to have better communication skills
so work on those negotiation and networking skills to improve
your opportunities in the job market and attract new clients.
You are not alone - there are other women out there in the
construction industry - Women in Construction in the North
West www.wicnet.org.uk and MWDG for starters. Also I think
the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) does mentoring
schemes.
21. Do not try to play the game. You don't have to become a
'bloke' to do this job. Be honest to yourself and your customers
and stick with your morals.
22. Be sure of your facts. Trust your instincts. Always be aware of
personal safety.
23. Talk to people, show you know what you're doing, ask for
help but in an informed way.

44. Top tips...
24. Network with women in similar roles inside and outside
work. Mentor younger women. Work out which men have wives
who are partners, work with them, and avoid the others. Raise
issues, even if it doesn't help you it may help women who
follow you. Join a union. Join forces with all women in the
workplace particularly high ranking women in more traditional
roles, Office manager, bosses, PA who are often also isolated.
25. Just don't listen - believe you are good.
26. Don't take any bullshit. If there are comments, react once
but then ignore.
27. Men expect women in senior construction roles to be very
masculine. My tips are to be uber feminine in style and
behaviour, stand out, be super confident, asking questions and
clarifying details, be clear, concise and direct, don't be afraid
not to laugh at poor jokes. If all that fails grow thick skin and
persevere!!

45. Top tips...
28. Know your stuff. Dress smart but also comfortably as you
don't know when you have to go out on site. It's more
important to walk across a construction site than totter in
heels and skirt in the office. Might be fun for the under 30'sbut
if you want to be taken seriously be glam but not a bimbo.
Don't forget men have sensitive egos so don't crash all over
them as you might miss some key information, experience and
they really won't want you around. Take the emotions outside
of the workplace have some really great female pals you can
unload with or take up yoga or both!
29. Do not suppress things, tell them what you think
straightaway even if this risks your job, your life and your
safety.
30. Being prepared - at the end of the day people will respect
you for doing a good job.

46. Top tips...
31. Don't give people the chance to put you down. Do not feel
the need to act like one of the boys. Just be yourself and prove
yourself capable. Anyone who would treat you differently for
being a woman is probably not worth working with anyway.
32. Work with schools and young women to de mystify manual
trades and careers. Ensure apprenticeships are available to
older age groups including women returning to work after
having children Set up support networks with other women in
trades even if far away Use your unions to fight for more
inclusive workplaces. Make it clear to your employer what you
are prepared to put up with and what you are not.
33. Not sure this is really relevant to the planning side of things -
being a woman in planning is seen as normal and therefore
you don’t need 'tips to survive‘.

47. Top tips...
34. Always remain calm. Remain professional and level headed - I find
women in the workplace can often be at competition with one
another rather than work successfully as part of a team.
35. Be yourself. Try not to take things personally (even if you do, don’t
show that you do!) Grow a thick skin. Notwithstanding the above
don’t be afraid to show your feminine side. Don’t take the job home
with you - otherwise you end up in a vicious circle which you can’t get
out from.
36. Stand up for yourself and believe, correctly, that you are as
capable as a man at doing the job.
37. Don't be easily offended. Don't just align yourself with one sex.
Maintain your 'femaleness‘. Don't be afraid to make your voice
heard. Be distinctive. Develop a specialism. Dressing well will make
you feel confident and happy!

48. Top tips...
38. That's such a patronising question. The more you
conduct surveys like this, trying to highlight differences
between men and women, the longer the issue will
continue.

49. Have attitudes changed?
Respondents views:
Yes: 38%
No: 13%
Slowly/still more to do: 17%
Don’t know/difficult to tell 29%

50. So what have we found?
Small survey - but interesting results:
• Numbers of women in the industry remain low
• Women are still experiencing disadvantage
• There are lots of examples of negative experiences
• There are examples of positive experiences from women
currently working, or who have previously worked in the
industry
• 59% of women feel they are treated equally and 83%
recognised for doing a good job
• Differences in pay exist, but there are many who do not know
if there are any differences
• PPE for women – needs to be improved – and not pink!!

51. So what have we found?
• Negative assumptions about women’s ability to do the
role still exist
• Ability to work flexibly to account for family life could be
improved
• More women (and at a senior level) and promotion of
women as role models in construction would be
beneficial
• Networking and support groups for women
• You have to work hard to prove yourself
• Attitudes and behaviours are changing, but slowly

52. So what have we found?
There is still a long way to go

53. Thank you