A Study to Recognise the Exceptional Journey of Leadership: Examining the Professional Barriers of Women in Construction Sector of China

Abstract

The construction industry of China is developing as an important economic contributor gradually, and a significant part of women are participating in this industry being a major drive to boost the development of this industry. However, a significant disparity in the engagement of female employees persists within this industry, as females are undervalued for administrative and managerial responsibilities, while male employees occupy higher-ranking positions and dominate critical roles from entry-level to senior management. Despite having significant qualities of engineering, project management, taking important decisions of administration, they are marginalised in this industry. This study endeavoured to determine the factors that diminish the capabilities and opportunities of women to become leaders, including inadequate support systems from family and office, poor relationships with other employees and higher-authority figures, and improper institutional mechanisms. Therefore, the study highlighted on the problems of male-dominations in this specific industry and inspired to enrich the growth of construction sector by increasing progression of women leadership development. Data for the research were collected by semi-structured interviews from the women leaders working on various construction industry and a qualitative approach was used to analyse the data. Purposive sampling technique was used to choose respondents to verify their related professional records. The acquired information was examined by the thematic analysis for repetition of themes. The outcomes showed that supportive work situations, positive relationships, and effective institutional mechanisms promoted women’s career progression, contributing to both individual leadership development and the overall growth of  China’s construction industry. Therefore, women leaders are much necessary in the construction industry for both of their personal career growth and economic growth of the Chinese nations