The perception is definitely changing. perspectives.
advancement. Even practical issues, such as inadequate facilities or ill-fitting protective gear on construction sites, highlight the ongoing work needed to create a truly inclusive environment.
Changing Perceptions and Breaking Glass Ceilings
The perception of women in construction is changing, driven by cultural shifts, advocacy, changing workplace culture and the recognition that diverse teams drive better results. More companies are also actively recruiting and supporting women, recognizing the value of their skills and
The perception is definitely changing. perspectives.
Still, many women say that forging their own path is key. Caplan has rarely felt that male colleagues treated her differently.
“ I have always strived to be as knowledgeable as I could be on my scope of work, to speak with confidence and to seek the trust of the people around me,” Caplan explains.“ So, some of that lack of bias in my experience was due to a certain level of confidence in presenting myself.”
Chavez echoes this sentiment.
“ One of the first things you notice is that you’ re always outnumbered and so there does tend to be a sense of insecurity or imposter syndrome,” she admits.“ That’ s normal anytime you’ re in the minority but you can’ t let that deter you.”
She explains that, like so many other women in historically male-dominated fields, she had to take an active approach to gaining the recognition she deserved.
“ One way is to be tenacious and take up space purposefully,” she says. That sometimes meant going to meetings she wasn’ t included in.
“ I knew they were important to my project and specifically to my role,” she says.“ I didn’ t ask whether I could be included, I just showed up. By not waiting for permission, I was able to [ provide ] insights to questions that only I was able to answer. By doing this, I was able to make an impression.”
Thanks to individual efforts, along with media representation, mentorship programs and more stepping into women in leadership positions, outdated stigmas are fading. Womenled construction firms and high-profile projects run by
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