Understanding Experiences of Canadian Women in Building and Construction Trades Through a Feminist Existential Lens
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“A Labyrinth of Snake Pits and Traps at Every Corner”: Understanding Experiences of Canadian Women in Building and Construction Trades Through a Feminist Existential Lens By Rhonda L. Dever A Dissertation Submitted to Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration (Management) April, 2021, Halifax, Nova Scotia Copyright Rhonda L. Dever, 2021 Approved: Dr. Albert Mills, Supervisor Saint Mary’s University, Halifax Approved: Scott MacMillan, Committee Member Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax Approved: Dr. Meredith Ralston, Committee Member Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax Approved: Dr. Martin Parker, External Examiner University of Bristol, Bristol Date: April 19, 2021 Abstract “A Labyrinth of Snake Pits and Traps at Every Corner”: Understanding Experiences of Canadian Women in Building and Construction Trades Through a Feminist Existential Lens By Rhonda L. Dever Abstract: By 2010, women made up almost half (47%) of the entire Canadian workforce (Ferraro, 2010) and the majority of women work in the service sector with the highest concentration (82%) in the healthcare and social assistance sectors. While the number of women in the workforce has been increasing, there has not been an increase in the number of women in the building trades despite initiatives that have been steadily encouraging women to pursue careers in trades as a viable option to earn a living. The stories of ten female tradespeople were examined using narrative analysis (Riessman, 2008) through a feminist existential lens using the work of de Beauvoir (1976, 1989). Women choosing to pursue a career in trades face much different consequences for their choice than their male counterparts. Through a feminist existential analysis, I argue that the basis of these issues stems from women being viewed as the Other. The major themes that arose from this study were ways in which women are both openly objectified and oppressed at work and how those actions limit their choices, and in turn their existential freedom, creating a space in which they end up working in bad faith. April 19, 2021 i Dedication This dissertation is dedicated to my son, Lincoln Robert William Dever. You are the only person who sacrificed more than I did during this endeavour. You have always been wise beyond your years and our ‘old soul’ allowed you to cope with the missed adventures and missed time from your youth we will never get back. You handled it in a way most children would not have been able to. You will always be my moon and stars. You light up the darkness and provide a sense of direction that allows me to stay on track and to never give up. Hearing you say “I love you a million times more than whatever you say next in the whole wide world” will forever fill my heart. Dancing in the kitchen with you is always my favourite thing to do. Remember that life is not a linear path, but instead a journey; a journey that will be as unique as you are. I love you, son. ii Acknowledgements Embarking on a PhD is a bit of a strange journey. One that is incredibly isolating, and yet you could never finish one alone. There is a vast group of people who support you at various times throughout the process. The acknowledgments below barely scratch the surface of those who have helped me along the way. To my supervisor, Dr. Albert Mills, I am still not certain how I got here, but I cannot imagine having anyone else guide me through this process. You allowed me to figure it out in my own time and provided insight whenever and wherever it was required. To my committee members, Dr. Meredith Ralston and Dr. Scott MacMillan, your feedback and encouragement were invaluable. I know it took longer than we had all hoped so thank you for sticking it out with me. To my external examiner, Dr. Martin Parker, I thank you for your insight, thought provoking questions, and feedback. You certainly were the right ‘choice’ as my external examiner! Thank you to the most amazing cohort ever who I will always refer to as my SMU family. There are no other people on this planet I would have wanted to take on this challenge with. Kristene Coller, Corinne McNally, Danielle Mercer-Prowse, Ryan MacNeil, and Ken Hudson – you are such amazing scholars and fantastic humans. The ways in which we bonded are indescribable and the friendships we created are lifelong. I look forward to our future collaborations. Thank you for not letting me quit despite my best efforts to do so. Our venting sessions and shared frustrations only made us closer. Some of my favourite memories of this entire process are of us sitting around a boardroom table laughing until we cried. The inside jokes will go on forever! A special thank you to Kristene Coller – Our phone calls were invaluable to my success and I never would have survived this without you. Thank you to the brave women who shared their stories with me. Without all of you, this work would not have been possible. I am hopeful that you continue to break ground at work and continue to pave the way for the women who are coming up behind you. Thank you to my family and friends for your understanding and patience throughout this long process. I am so glad I will never have to hear “are you done yet” or “how is your paper going” at any more of our gatherings! A special thank you to my dear friend, Jenn Ross, who helped me put words on paper when I struggled to find my thoughts. Lastly, and most importantly, to my Mom, Sandra. You have never wavered in your support of our family. You taught me perseverance from the time I was a child; thank you. Although you may not have always understood what I was doing, you never doubted my ability. You gave up so much of your time and energy to help me with Lincoln during my pursuit of a PhD that you should be getting an honourary degree yourself. I love you, Mom. iii Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................ i Dedication ....................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... iv Chapter One: Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 Prologue ...................................................................................................................................... 1 The Need for Trades Research .................................................................................................... 4 Women in Trades in Canada ....................................................................................................... 6 Masculine Nature of Trades Work .............................................................................................. 8 Research Questions and Approach ............................................................................................. 9 Structure of the Study ............................................................................................................... 12 Chapter Two: Literature Review .................................................................................................. 13 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 13 Women and Work – A Brief History ........................................................................................ 14 Moving Towards Employment Equity...................................................................................... 17 Beginning to Understand the Experience ................................................................................. 20 Barriers To Entry ...................................................................................................................... 22 Masculinity and Gender in the Trades ...................................................................................... 25 Tokenism................................................................................................................................... 28 Why Women Choose Trades .................................................................................................... 31 Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 32 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 35 Chapter Three: Theoretical Lens .................................................................................................. 36 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 36 Simone De Beauvoir ................................................................................................................. 40 Choice ....................................................................................................................................... 44 Objectification..........................................................................................................................