Built for Men: Institutional Privilege in the Australian Construction Industry Natalie Rose Galea A thesis in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Built Environment Faculty April 2018 PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Galea First name: Natalie Other name/s: Rose Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: School: Faculty: Built Environment Title: Built for Men: Institutional Privilege in the Australian Construction Industry Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) The construction industry is Australia's most male dominated sector where men's over-representation and dominance remains unyielding in this area for decades. Scholars and the construction sector define the problem as an issue associated with women's under-representation and powerlessness. This dissertation takes the inverse perspective, reorientating the focus from women's disadvantage to men's advantage. Applying key concepts from feminist institutionalism and the literature on masculinities and on privilege, this dissertation aims to examine the role of masculine privilege in maintaining men's over-representation and powerfulness in the construction industry. This research applies an interpretivist approach. It uses an ethnographic study of a large multinational construction company to examine how acts of privilege operate across the career landscape - including recruitment. progression and retention - in a construction company. It considers how the 'rules-in-use' propagate hegemonic masculinity and male over-representation in construction professions at the expense of women construction professionals. In this research a multi-method ethnography was conducted and analysed over three phases. It includes: document analysis of 30 company policies. 42 interviews. 24 participant observations undertaken across six company events and three construction sites. This dissertation finds that hegemonic masculinity is embedded in the pattern of rules that are followed and enforced within construction companies and the by-product is masculine privilege. Key findings from the research are that masculine privilege in construction acts in three ways: through a culture of denial; perceptions that rules are neutral, legitimate and applied objectively; and through backlash and resistance to maintain the gender status quo. It concludes that looking across the three career stages of recruitment, progression and retention, women construction professionals are disadvantaged by the 'rules-in-use', while acts of privilege hold the rules in place and maintain men's institutional privilege, over-representation, and power in the construction sector. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation In whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known. subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights. such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral them oaly) Date The University recogni�at there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or cond1t1ons on use Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in wnting. Requests for a longer perrod of restriction may be considered 1n exceptional circumstances and reauire the aooroval of the Dean of Graduate Research FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award. ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed …………………………………………….............. Date …………………………………………….............. COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... ABSTRACT The construction industry is Australia’s most male dominated sector where men’s over-representation and dominance has remained unyielding in this area for decades. Scholars and the construction sector define the problem as an issue associated with women’s under-representation and powerlessness. This dissertation takes the inverse perspective, reorientating the focus from women’s disadvantage to men’s advantage. Applying key concepts from feminist institutionalism and the literature on masculinities and on privilege, this dissertation aims to examine the role of masculine privilege in maintaining men’s over-representation and powerfulness in the construction industry. This research applies an interpretivist approach. It uses an ethnographic study of a large multinational construction company to examine how acts of privilege operate across the career landscape – including recruitment, progression and retention - in a construction company. It considers how the ‘rules- in-use’ propagate hegemonic masculinity and male over-representation in construction professions at the expense of women construction professionals. In this research a multi-method ethnography was conducted and analysed over three phases. It includes: document analysis of 30 company policies, 42 interviews, 24 participant observations undertaken across six company events and three construction sites. This dissertation finds that hegemonic masculinity is embedded in the pattern of rules that operate within construction companies, the by-product of which is masculine privilege. Key findings from the research are that masculine privilege in construction acts three ways to maintain the gender status quo: through a culture of denial; perceptions that rules are neutral, legitimate and applied objectively; and ii through backlash and resistance. It concludes that looking across the three career stages of recruitment, progression and retention, women construction professionals are disadvantaged by the ‘rules-in-use’, which are firmly held in place to maintain men’s institutional privilege, over-representation, and power in the construction sector. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the immeasurable support of a number of people. To my three supervisors, Professor Louise Chappell, Professor Martin Loosemore and Dr. Abigail Powell, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your knowledge, guidance and mentorship. Most of all, thank you for your unwavering support throughout all of my ups and downs and the personal guidance you provided me throughout my entire candidature. I am truly grateful. I had so much fun, thank you. To my dear postgraduate research coordinator, Suzie Scandurra and postgraduate research director, Dr. Judith O’Callaghan, I thank you for your steadfast support, patience and good humour. I also would like to thank Professor Susan Thompson and Dr. Hazel Easthope whose warmth and guidance ensured that I stay on track throughout my candidature. I would also like to express appreciation to Dr. Maryam Gusheh, my generous mentor and ‘word catcher’. Thank you for coaching me over the writing sand hills of this dissertation. To my fellow researchers Adam Rogan, Megan Blaxland and Phillip Mar, thank you for your generosity of spirit and sharing your expertise with me. To the friends who I have worked with on construction sites around the world and those who I did not work with but met half way between