The urgent need for a more inclusive built environment

As we reflect on another Women's Month, which is celebrated in August in South Africa, and on the CIOB Women’s Day Breakfast we hosted in Cape Town at the end of August, I was reminded of the challenges and barriers that women continue to face in the construction industry. Over the years, through my own experiences, I’ve seen first-hand how women are often excluded, undervalued, and sometimes even abused in this space. Even when we secure opportunities fairly and squarely, we are still forced to prove our capabilities time and again. This is not just disheartening, it’s unacceptable.

Empowering women should not be treated as a box-ticking exercise but as a critical component of building a diverse and inclusive industry. The importance of diversity goes beyond simple representation; it involves sharing equal responsibility in job creation and skills transfer. This is not just about fairness, it’s about harnessing the full potential of our workforce to drive innovation, productivity, and growth.

We cannot continue to address these issues only in August, during Women's Month, and then forget about them for the rest of the year. This pattern of temporary acknowledgment followed by prolonged neglect is causing real pain to the women who are responsible for empowering our communities. These women are not just workers or employees; they are leaders, mentors, and change makers. Yet, despite their crucial roles, they are too often overlooked and undervalued.

I find myself wondering, how many generations will it take for this cry to be heard? How long will it take before we see real change? I ask myself these questions not just as a woman in the industry, but as a mother. If I give up, how will my daughter and your daughter be treated when it’s their turn to carry the baton? Will they be considered unproductive if they need to rush home after work to care for their families? Will they be seen as a bad investment when they need to go on maternity leave to welcome new life into the world?

These are not just rhetorical questions; they are real concerns that affect every woman in our industry. And while there may not be easy answers, one thing is clear: women must be given the opportunities they deserve in construction. Our industry needs their perspectives, their skills, and their leadership.

It's time for us to move beyond symbolic gestures and take real action. We must break down the barriers that have held women back for too long and create an environment where they can thrive, not just for one month out of the year, but every day. Only then can we build a truly inclusive and equitable industry that benefits everyone.

In our ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable industry, it’s essential to recognise the role that boys play in this journey. While much of the focus is on empowering girls and women, we must not overlook the importance of raising boys to be conscious, inclusive, and aware of their role in the world. Creating opportunities for boys to grow, learn, and understand their responsibilities in a diverse sector is crucial, not just for their own success but for the collective progress of all.