International Women’s Day 2022 – Let’s Break the Bias
Today marks International Women’s Day, a global day designed to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality.
As a woman working across typically male-dominated industries, including construction and property, I am passionate about this year’s International Women’s Day theme – Break the bias.
After breaking the bias myself and starting a career in these industries after being in a stable career spanning nearly twenty years, I am all too familiar with the need to nurture emerging female talent into the industry.
Research highlights that just 13%[1] of those working in the construction industry are women. I am committed to helping increase this number. Through providing mentorship for women starting out in the construction and property industries, I hope to encourage more women to carve out successful careers for themselves.
As an industry, we need to end the outdated assumptions, shatter the glass ceilings and break the bias that surrounds us. At present, as little as one percent [2] of people working in manual trades across the property and construction industry are women. As an industry experiencing a skills shortage, it’s more important than ever before to entice new talent, including women, into the sector.
For generations, women have overcome career growth hurdles thrown their way. In the past, we have faced discrimination for taking maternity leave, requesting time off for menopause symptoms or needing flexible working to juggle childcare. Today, most companies are committed to providing equal opportunities for women and awareness of this across the industry needs to be raised. We need to educate the next generation that the old stereotypes of the construction and property industries are no more and that the industry is a welcoming and exciting place to be.
Today, the sectors are forward-thinking, innovative and adaptable.
Today, the construction and property industries provide excellent career growth and development opportunities.
Today, the industry needs women.
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