Challenging and changing young women!s perceptions of construction careers
Jillian A. Gant, Fall 2004
Brief:
The objective of this thesis is to address the influences of traditional gender roles, perceptions, and stereotypes that affect women!s career choice preferences and why women are not seeking careers in the construction industry. A youth program that incorporates the presence of role models, educational programs, and adequate career counseling to begin at the early ages of adolescence and continue as a presence through the high school years can help the construction industry succeed in recruiting and retaining women in the workforce. This thesis introduces a micro-unit lesson plan designed to engage young women in performing tasks traditionally identified as "men!s work". The program is designed to assist in developing lesson plans used in an educational curriculum or club program, such as the Girl Scouts, to provide educational dialogue with hands on projects involving industry role models and field trips to expose young women to construction career opportunities.