Confronting barriers to women in leadership positions: A study on construction industry

In the modern era, the awakening social development of women in society has
increased the scope of their participation in the development of the economy to widen from
homes to the work place. However women are under-represented in the construction industry
and the percentage of women leaders in senior management remains minimal. A substantial
body of opinion within the research on women leadership reflects that modern organisations
require a non-coercive leadership based on teamwork and building relationships. Furthermore
it states, that this is the very style of leadership that is naturally employed by women.
However, the generally held negative perception of women as leaders could be an obstacle to
women leadership in construction. This study examines the barriers to women in leadership
positions in senior management of the construction organisations, and the initiatives
committed to promote women to senior level of management.