Assessment of Gender Issues in the Construction Industry in Tanzania

  IJETT-book-cover  International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT)          
  
© 2018 by IJETT Journal
Volume-59 Number-4
Year of Publication : 2018
Authors : Kimata N. Malekela, Ruth M. Daata
DOI :  10.14445/22315381/IJETT-V59P232

Citation 

Kimata N. Malekela, Ruth M. Daata"Assessment of Gender Issues in the Construction Industry in Tanzania", International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT), V59(4),175-181 May 2018. ISSN:2231-5381. www.ijettjournal.org. published by seventh sense research group

Abstract
Gender imbalance in the construction industry is a problem in Tanzania and world at large. The Tanzania Development Vision 2025 through the Construction Industry Policy has set a goal to promote women participation in the Construction activities. The study therefore aimed at assessing the extent of achievement of Construction Industry Policy directions through set strategies addressing gender issues in Tanzania construction industry, and determining the challenges hindering achievement of the Construction Industry Policy directions to attain the goal on women participation by 2025. The study was conducted through questionnaire survey administered on 40 main actors for promoting women participation in the construction industry in Tanzania. The primary data were mainly analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) Version 20.0. The study found that gender issues have been poorly achieved to an extent below 50% for the 15 years now since the policy establishment in 2003. Top three challenges hindering achievement of the policy directions to attain the goal on women participation by 2025 through set strategies are recruitment practices based on women discrimination, limited career knowledge, and culture and environment. It is therefore recommended that a council should be formed to strictly deal with women matters within the construction industry at regional level. Also, women professionals themselves should form a union as a coordination unit at regional levels where they can meet and discuss their matters.

Reference
[1] M. Buser, Diversity Management and Best Practices in the Construction Sector. www.fliba.eu, Accessed on 26th April, 2016.
[2] M. Jahn, Discrimination Against Women in the Construction Industry. South Africa: Pretoria University, A Bachelor Dissertation, 2009. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 59 Issue 4- May 2018
[3] K. Sang and A. Powell, Gender Inequality in the Construction Industry: Lessons from Pierre Bourdieu, Abingdon: Spon Press, Edinburgh, UK, 2012.
[4] M. Loosemore, Danity, and H. Lingard, H. Human Resources Management in Construction Projects: Strategic Operational Approaches. Spon Press, London and New York, 2003.
[5] A. Agapiou. Perceptions of Gender Roles and Attitude towards Work among Male and Female Operatives in the Scottish Construction Industry. Construction Management and Economics, 5(20), 697-705, 2002.
[6] ILO, Global Employment Trends. Switzerland: ILO Publication Bureau, 2004.
[7] The The Planning Commission. The Tanzania Development Vision 2025.: Government Printer, Dar es Salaam, 1999.
[8] National Construction Council (NCC), Construction Industry Policy, Dar es Salaam: Tanzania Publishing house, 2003.
[9] Ministry of Works. Construction Industry Policy, Dar es Salaam: The Government Printer, 2003.
[10] C. Bunch. Women and gender: The Evolution of Women Specific Institutions and Gender Integration. United Nations: The Oxford Handbook Press, 2006.
[11] T. Nonhlanhla. The Status of Gender in the Construction Sector. www.laborstart.org. Accessed on 26th April, 2016.
[12] G. Kikwasi, Women in Construction: The Blocked Resource. Journal of National Construction Council of Tanzania, 7(5): 7-15, 2005.
[13] ILO, Baseline Study to Assess Gender Disparities in Construction Sector Jobs. Switzerland: ILO Publication Bureau, 2015.
[14] V. Chandra and M. Loosemore, Women’s Self-Perception: an Inter-Sector Comparison of Construction, Legal and Nursing Professionals. Construction Management and Economics, 22(9), 947-956, 2004.
[15] L. Worrall, Organizational Cultures: Obstacles to Women in the UK Construction Industry, In Journal of Psychological Issues, 2(4): 6-21, 2012.
[16] Construction sector council, The State of Women in Construction in Canada, http://www.winsett.ca/new-strategic -plan, viewed: 7th May, 2016.
[17] T. Wright. The Women into Construction Project: an Assessment of a Model for Increasing Women’s participation in Construction. Centre for Research in Equality and Diversity, School of Business and Management, Queen Mary: University of London, 2014.

Keywords
Gender Issues, Construction Industry Policy, Policy directions, Women Participation, Strategies, Tanzania Development Vision 2025, Construction Industry.