Hegarty, T; Wright, S; Wordsworth, R and Lord, B (2023) Deferential tailoring: A grounded theory of how women respond and adapt to social conditions and gender-related challenges in the New Zealand construction industry. Construction Management and Economics, 41(2), pp. 138-152. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
In this article we utilize grounded theory to explore women’s experiences in the unique construction industry context that followed the 2010 Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquakes. Data were obtained from 36 semi-structured interviews conducted with women working in a variety of occupations in the construction industry. We identify three inter-related categories: capitalizing on opportunity, demonstrating capability and surface tolerance, which together represent a response process that we label “deferential tailoring”. The deferential tailoring process explains how women intentionally shape their response to industry conditions through self-regulating behaviours that enables them to successfully seize opportunities and manage gender-related challenges in the working environment. Our findings challenge existing research which suggests that women adopt submissive coping strategies to conform to androcentric norms in the construction industry. Instead, we argue that the process of deferential tailoring can empower women to build positive workplace relationships, enhance career development, and help shift perceptions of the value of their work in the industry.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction industry; coping strategies; gender; grounded theory; post-disaster |
| Index terms: | strategy, occupation, interview, norms, career, grounded theory, New Zealand, construction industry, women, earthquake, coping |
| Subjects: | Geography, professional development, theoretical framing, management, industry analysis, environmental hazards, behavioral psychology, sociology, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Information Management, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Business Strategy, Sustainability, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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