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Breaking Barriers: Understanding Factors Constraining Women’s Career Choices and Progression in the South African Construction Industry
No full textPurpose
This paper examines the barriers constraining women's career choices and progression within
the South African construction industry.
Methodology
The study adopted a mixed-method research approach, employing a questionnaire survey of
construction industry workers listed in the Construction Professions Register, Builders
Collective and the Housing Assembly Organisation. It also used interviews, to validate the
quantitative data. The data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics,
including factor analysis.
Findings
The study found that 39 of the 46 barriers identified have normalized values greater than 0.5
and, therefore, are classified as critical. From a ranking perspective, the top five barriers to the
career choices and progression of women in the construction industry are male domination in
construction industry careers, gender bias, an unfriendly workplace cultures, lack of strategies
and policies for gender balance, and educational expenses. Also, personal and socio-cultural
factors, as well as pay disparities, were found to hinder women from pursuing and advancing
in construction careers. Furthermore, the KMO score for this study is 0.778, which is greater
than the standard threshold, meeting the required standards of the Principal Component
Analysis. The results show that there is no evidence of a substantial deviation from sphericity,
and there are significant correlations between the variables.
Research Limitations
This study draws upon literature from other countries due to the limited literature available,
specifically focusing on South Africa. However, such references may overlook the country's
distinctive political history of racial segregation, which influences the research findings. South
Africa's racial history, characterized by apartheid and its lingering effects, has significantly
shaped the socio-economic landscape of the nation.
Practical Implications
This study concludes that women will choose construction as a career and progress in the
construction industry, if targeted interventions and supportive environments promote gender
inclusivity and encourage their professional growth
Causal Factors of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG): Perspectives from the Brazilian Higher Education Students
No full textViolence against women and girls (VAWG) remains a critical problem within Brazilian higher education institutions, where deep-rooted cultural norms and institutional shortcomings continue to foster unsafe environments for female students. Although national and international bodies have raised concerns, few studies have thoroughly examined the layered causes of VAWG in academic settings using comprehensive analytical methods. This study aims to explore the causal factors of VAWG within Brazilian universities by applying a structured survey and analyzing the responses using the Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) approach. This method allows for a nuanced interpretation of the collected data by assigning weighted values to various contributing factors. The research assessed five major dimensions—individual, interpersonal, institutional, community and societal causal factors. The findings reveal that societal and institutional causes significantly contribute to VAWG, while individual factors play a comparatively minor role. These insights point to the structural and systemic nature of VAWG in academic settings, emphasizing the need for broad reforms. Based on the results, practical recommendations, including cultural reorientation, stricter institutional policies, and gender-sensitive training are recommended. By applying FSE in this context, the study offers a novel approach to evaluating and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in higher education, contributing to a valuable model for future research and institutional policymaking. The results offer critical insights that can guide interventions to foster safer and more inclusive university environments in Brazil
GENDER EQUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY IN VIETNAMESE HIGHER EDUCATION: STUDENTS' PERSPECTIVES
No full textGender equality is one of the focal points in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which face stiff confrontation in most developing nations because of cultural barriers and stereotypical behaviours towards females. However, measures must be implemented in most organisations in developing nations to ensure gender equality and inclusiveness of females in all sectors. This study investigated the measures of sustaining gender equality momentum through a survey of Vietnamese university students analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to understand the efforts in attaining SDG 5. The analysis revealed that male and female students have similar views of gender equality measures across the curriculum and teaching practice, institutional policies and culture, and personal experience and perspective. The significant differences found in the respondents' opinions across their years of study are opined to tilt towards the first-year students. Therefore, it is recommended that the university management make known their gender equality stand and reiterate it on formal occasions such as open days and orientation exercises for first-year students. In addition, it is suggested that universities fund training that centres on gender equality and male staff and students should be in attendance to enable them to understand the global shift from patriarchal culture. The study's findings contribute practically and theoretically to the global discourse on gender equality, with implications for increasing the awareness and need for gender equality in academic environments of developing nations
Sustainable healthy communities: the contested role of ‘region’ in the housing development sector
No full textThe English housing development sector is frequently described as being in a state of crisis, presenting challenges for a range of stakeholders. The research is tensioned against structural shifts in the housing development sector, with an agglomeration of a handful of large housing developers shaping the narrative, set against the decline of regional SMEs developers. The aim is to unpack the prevailing discourse and the common reductionist metric of ‘units’ built, in order to reintroduce notions of regionalism, place and sustainable healthy community into the debate. Central to this is unpacking what is meant by ‘region’ or ‘regional’. Contemporary perspectives on regionality are critiqued, questioning the criteria by which regions are defined and understood. Methodologically the research considers through a desk study how regional identities are mobilised within various institutional contexts. A central theme that emerges is the importance of regional identity and its complex interplay with changing stakeholder interests. Findings illustrate that regions and identities are shaped by historical and spatial themes, requiring a contextually grounded approach. Such themes are currently missing from much of the debates around housing development, with large national housing developers shaping the rhetoric, often to suit their agendas. The research concludes by proposing that the definition of a region is inherently fluid, shaped by the needs and agendas of those involved in its conceptualisation. This nuanced understanding of regionality challenges the dominant narratives in housing development and underscores the potential of regional SME house builders to contribute to more sustainable and contextually appropriate solutions
Knowledge Foundations, Issue 9 - October 2025
No full textKnowledge Foundations publication (formerly the UBE e-library e-bulletin) is a compendium of news, views, research, and resources related to the educational sector and the built environment
Knowledge Foundations, Issue 8 - September 2025
No full textKnowledge Foundations publication (formerly the UBE e-library e-bulletin) is a compendium of news, views, research, and resources related to the educational sector and the built environment
Knowledge Foundations, Issue 5 - May 2025
Get PDFKnowledge Foundations publication (formerly the UCEM e-library e-bulletin) is a compendium of news, views, research, and resources related to the educational sector and the built environment
Knowledge Foundations, Issue 6 - June/July 2025
Get PDFKnowledge Foundations publication (formerly the UCEM e-library e-bulletin) is a compendium of news, views, research, and resources related to the educational sector and the built environment
Evaluating the Agreement Index of the Barriers Faced by Women During the Transition from Higher Education to Empowerment in Brazil: A Sustainable Development Perspective
Get PDFEfficient and sustainable human resources are crucial for promoting development in emerging nations. Brazil’s education policy provides its citizens with widespread educational opportunities, resulting in high literacy rates. However, women with academic qualifications and skills often encounter significant barriers when transitioning from higher education to positions of empowerment, leading to an underutilisation of human capital. This study, conducted in 2024, gathered data from female students and staff at three Brazilian universities (the State University of Maranhãoo, the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and the University of São Paulo) using a survey methodology to ascertain the barriers impeding women’s transition from higher education to empowerment. The data were analysed using Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE), a soft computing technique, and it was identified that the most significant barriers revolve around women’s freedom and mobility. Additional challenges include gender norms, family responsibilities, violence and harassment, socio-cultural constraints, and financial limitations. The study offers practical recommendations such as organising awareness programmes and integrating digital technology to enhance workplace safety, thereby addressing these barriers. The findings contribute both practically and theoretically to the more effective utilisation of human resources in Brazil. These insights are particularly valuable for stakeholders, including government bodies, managers, and academic institutions, in fostering gender equality and empowering women in the workforce