Buser, M and Kifokeris, D (2022) Do what I say not what I do: Increasing the representation of minorities in the construction sector. In: Tutesigensi, A and Neilson, C J (eds.) Proceedings of 38th Annual ARCOM Conference, 5-7 September 2022, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK.
Abstract
The minorities are still underrepresented in the Swedish construction sector despite initiatives launched to answer a growing demand for workforce. Whereas many studies have focused on the minorities, we propose here to look at how the majorities maintain their dominance in the case of a civil engineering education. To do so, we build on the concept of privilege accounting for the dynamics which marginalize some while benefitting others. Drawing on a mixed method approach, the empirical material of this qualitative research includes the reviewing of 120 individual assignments of MSc students in construction management, 16 interviews of these students, and the authors' teaching experience. The preliminary results show a blindness towards one’s own privilege, and an overfocus on the differences attributed to the minorities. The paper contributes to a wider understanding of the social dynamic of discrimination within sector.
| Item Type: | Conference Paper (Paper) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | diversity management; minorities; civil engineering education; privilege |
| Index terms: | minority, privilege, dynamics, qualitative research, construction sector, discrimination, accounting, mixed method, interview, engineering education, drawing |
| Subjects: | research design and methodology, data collection methods, economic analysis, technical documentation, systems engineering, industry analysis, professional ethics, sociology, professional education |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Design Practice, Legal Issues, Ethics, Education |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here