WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION
Higher levels of domestic responsibility, lower levels of education and a lack of female role models and mentors are among the barriers faced by women in the construction industry.
Unpacking barriers for women in construction
T
his was discussed during a webinar hosted by the Constr uction Industr y Development Board (CIDB) ahead of the 2021 Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction (ERWIC) Awards. “While entrepreneurship and risk will always be inextricably linked, woman entrepreneurs face even more barriers than their male counterparts,” explains Sakhile Mkwanazi, business coach, GROW. “Studies have proven that there is a strong correlation between education and entrepreneurship. The higher the level of education you have, the higher the probability that you will move towards entrepreneurship and become successful. The lack of female role models that are successful entrepreneurs has an impact
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on other females visualising themselves as entrepreneurs, as they have never seen women succeed before them.” Mkwanazi also highlighted possible cultural barriers such as a woman’s lack of assertiveness and confidence in their own skills, as well as a lack of business connections. “Most businesses are assisted by an entrepreneur’s network and relationships that helped the business get off the ground. Most women do not have such a network. If you are not educated enough to start your own business, if you do not have the confidence to start your own business, and if you do not have a mentor or role model that you can relate to and ask for advice – and no business network – you will probably not start a business. And if you do, there are already significant barriers.” A lack of access to funding, the incapacity of regulatory bodies to enforce transformation frameworks, and corruption were other barriers mentioned by Kile Mteto, MD, Ntando-Thando Consulting & Projects and steering committee member of the CIDB. “If you look at CIDB-registered companies, just 30% are womanowned and awarded just 23% of public sector projects.” “In addition to being outnumbered, women who work in construction are walking into a world that has long been tailored to men’s needs. The most challenging part of working in the construction industry as
