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Negotiating gender in the male-dominated skilled trades: a systematic literature review

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  • Donna Bridges
  • Elizabeth Wulff
  • Larissa Bamberry
  • Branka Krivokapic-Skoko
  • Stacey Jenkins

Abstract

Occupations in the skilled trades are highly segregated with women comprising 1–3% of this workforce in Western nations. We report on a systematic review of 26 articles, from 1998 to 2019, which explored women’s recruitment and retention in the skilled trades. Two research questions underpinned the review; the first identified challenges and barriers, the second identified success factors. Furthermore, the review examines why percentages of tradeswomen remain lower than those of women in professional occupations within the industry. The literature included in this review focuses on the barriers to women’s employment without sufficient emphasis on solutions to overcoming those barriers. The most common explanation for the problems of recruitment and attrition made in the literature is the failure of the masculine culture to change. However, we found little theoretical examination of masculinity and masculine culture beyond the hegemonic binary. Whilst many of the barriers exist for all women in construction, we argue that two distinct factors impact women in the skilled trades more than women in other occupations in the industry. These are the gendered body and informal and unregulated employment practices. These significant points of difference shed light on the future focus for research about women in the skilled trades.

Suggested Citation

  • Donna Bridges & Elizabeth Wulff & Larissa Bamberry & Branka Krivokapic-Skoko & Stacey Jenkins, 2020. "Negotiating gender in the male-dominated skilled trades: a systematic literature review," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(10), pages 894-916, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:conmgt:v:38:y:2020:i:10:p:894-916
    DOI: 10.1080/01446193.2020.1762906
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    Cited by:

    1. Aaron S. Howe & Joyce Lo & Sharan Jaswal & Ali Bani-Fatemi & Vijay Kumar Chattu & Behdin Nowrouzi-Kia, 2023. "Engaging Employers in Apprentice Training: Focus Group Insights from Small-to-Medium-Sized Employers in Ontario, Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Liyaning (Maggie) Tang & Shaleeza Sohail & Emma Shorthouse & Larissa Sullivan & Matthew Williams, 2022. "Put Gender on the Tender in Australian Public Projects," World, MDPI, vol. 3(3), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Wendy O’Brien & Clare Hanlon & Vasso Apostolopoulos, 2023. "Women as leaders in male‐dominated sectors: A bifocal analysis of gendered organizational practices," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(6), pages 1867-1884, November.
    4. Donna Bridges & Larissa Bamberry & Elizabeth Wulff & Branka Krivokapic‐Skoko, 2022. "“A trade of one's own”: The role of social and cultural capital in the success of women in male‐dominated occupations," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 371-387, March.
    5. Irantzu Recalde-Esnoz & Daniel Ferrández & Carlos Morón & Guadalupe Dorado, 2021. "Inequalities in the Exercise and Continuity in Building Engineering in Spain. Factor Analysis Including Gender Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-18, May.

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