Barriers and facilitators of career women’s participation in sustainable construction developments in South-South, Nigeria
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Date
2023-09-01
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Contemporary Research in the Built Environment 7(2) 1-15 Published by Department of Building, University of Uyo, Awka Ibom State Nigeria
Abstract
Purpose: Unique attribute of professional women in construction industry remains untapped assets in
sustainable construction developments (SCD). This study identified the critical barriers and facilitators of
career women participation in SCD.
Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected from consulting and contracting firms in Akwa
Ibom and Cross River States, in Nigeria through questionnaire administered to registered Architects,
Builders, Engineers and Quantity surveyors. Inter-rater analysis was used to spot the critical barriers and
facilitators while factor analysis was used to group the critical barriers and facilitators into discernible
components.
Findings: Findings revealed sixteen critical barriers to career women’s participation in SCD. The foremost
critical barriers include family obligation; technological deficiencies, and female preference for other jobs
relative to construction jobs with rating weighted agreement (RWG) values of 0.71; 0.63; and 0.61
respectively. Similarly, twenty-one critical facilitators to career women’s participation in SCD were
derived. Among the critical facilitators were provision of health and safety measures; provision of
mentors/roles model at school level/work place; and provision of caregiving support in the first three
positions with rating weighted agreement (RWG) values of 0.66; 0.64; and 0.63 correspondingly. The
harnessed factors formed four components each for barriers and facilitators. The barriers components are
strenuous environment; discrimination; lack of incentive; and inadequate training while the facilitators
components are education and learning; mentorship and networking; employment and retention; and health
and safety training.
Research limitations/Implications: The limitations include the use of only professional women in Akwa
Ibom and Cross River States in Nigeria. The contribution to knowledge is that, this study established
barriers and facilitators components to career women’s participation in SCD.
Practical implications: It is recommended that employers in the construction sector should introduce
condition of service that favourably consider the peculiarities of women and encourage their mentorship.
Originality/value: The study concludes that family care and concerns leading to female’s preference for
other jobs relative to construction jobs were significantly impacting on women’s participation in SCD, and
that the need to establish flexible working conditions and provide equal participation with their counterpart
at all level in SCD.
Description
Keywords
Barriers, Career women, Facilitators, Participation, Sustainable construction
Citation
Ekanem, S. F., Adewuyi, T. O. & Adebiyi R. T. (2023) Barriers and facilitators of career women’s participation in sustainable construction developments in South-South, Nigeria Journal of Contemporary Research in the Built Environment 7(2) 1-15 Published by Department of Building, University of Uyo, Awka Ibom State Nigeria.