The gendered dimensions of informal institutions in the Australian construction industry

Galea, N; Powell, A; Loosemore, M; Chappell, L

The gendered dimensions of informal institutions in the Australian construction industry

Galea, N Powell, A Loosemore, M

Chappell, L

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Publisher:: WILEY
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Gender, Work and Organization, 2020
Issue Date:: 2020-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Galea, N
dc.contributor.author	Powell, A
dc.contributor.author	Loosemore, M https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3189-4655
dc.contributor.author	Chappell, L
dc.date.accessioned	2020-10-09T23:15:09Z
dc.date.available	2020-10-09T23:15:09Z
dc.date.issued	2020-01-01
dc.identifier.citation	Gender, Work and Organization, 2020
dc.identifier.issn	0968-6673
dc.identifier.issn	1468-0432
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/143205
dc.description.abstract	© 2020 The Authors. Gender, Work & Organization published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd The construction industry is the most male-dominated in Australia, despite companies implementing formal policies and initiatives to address this. While previous research has examined the role of workplace culture as a barrier to women in the industry, our research investigates the role informal institutions play in obstructing gender equity in construction. We examine the gendered dimension of informal institutions (practices, narratives and norms) in two multinational Australian construction companies using feminist institutional (FI) theory and rapid ethnography. The findings show that informal gendered institutions obstruct women’s recruitment, retention and progression in construction. Recruitment into and within the industry is framed by male sponsorship, cultural fit and traditional education pipelines. Retention is compromised by poor parental leave practices and norms, which tolerate sexism and gender stereotypes, as well as unsustainable work practices. Progression is impaired by the need for strategic alliances with powerful men and a lack of transparency around promotion opportunities.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	WILEY
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP130100402
dc.relation.ispartof	Gender, Work and Organization
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/gwao.12458
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1503 Business and Management, 1608 Sociology, 1699 Other Studies in Human Society
dc.subject.classification	Gender Studies
dc.title	The gendered dimensions of informal institutions in the Australian construction industry
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.for	1503 Business and Management
utslib.for	1608 Sociology
utslib.for	1699 Other Studies in Human Society
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building/School of Built Environment
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2020-10-09T23:15:06Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

© 2020 The Authors. Gender, Work & Organization published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd The construction industry is the most male-dominated in Australia, despite companies implementing formal policies and initiatives to address this. While previous research has examined the role of workplace culture as a barrier to women in the industry, our research investigates the role informal institutions play in obstructing gender equity in construction. We examine the gendered dimension of informal institutions (practices, narratives and norms) in two multinational Australian construction companies using feminist institutional (FI) theory and rapid ethnography. The findings show that informal gendered institutions obstruct women’s recruitment, retention and progression in construction. Recruitment into and within the industry is framed by male sponsorship, cultural fit and traditional education pipelines. Retention is compromised by poor parental leave practices and norms, which tolerate sexism and gender stereotypes, as well as unsustainable work practices. Progression is impaired by the need for strategic alliances with powerful men and a lack of transparency around promotion opportunities.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/143205