Browsing by Author "Sorael, Miriam"

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    Participation of women in the construction industry in Dar es Salaam city: a case study of selected housing projects
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2019) Sorael, Miriam
    This study explored the participation of women in the construction industry in Dar es Salaam city, using a case study of selected housing projects. Specifically, it examined the level of participation of women, their roles and responsibilities and the challenges they faced while performing construction industry activities. The study employed un exploratory study design and the research data were generated from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data were collected from 70 respondents using questionnaires and interviews through both random and purposive sampling techniques, secondary data, on the other hand, were collected using desk review. The data were and computed using SPSS to generate relevant analytical tools to present the data. The descriptive statistics method was adopted for analysiing quantitative data collected using questionnaire with closed-ended questions specially frequency tables, percentages, graphs and charts whereas qualitative data obtained using interviews were subjected to content analysis, and presented thematically frequency tables, percentages, graphs and chart whereas qualitative data obtained using interviews were subjected to content analysis, and presented thematically in narrative form. The study found that the construction industry has remained male-dominated as only a small proportion of women were involved in the construction segregations at work, lack of conducive working environment on site and sufficient successful role models. They also complained about the negative perceptions men have toward women’s participation in the construction industry. In addition, the study showed that women in the construction sites were mostly assigned to general duties that needed low-level skills. These duties included cleanness, watering bricks and walls, carrying construction equipment, backfilling and grout painting as well as bricklaying. This entails that most women participants in construction industry are undertake minimal duties and few professional duties. The challenges that women faced in the construction industry included discrimination, unequal opportunities to participate in construction activities and underrepresentation due to widespread stereotyping that women are unfit for the construction projects. Furthermore, some respondents claimed that the management in construction companies undermined women practitioners, claims which worsened the working conditions for both male and female. The study recommends that construction companies in partnership with the Tanzania government should place more emphasis on the provision of equal opportunities in the recruitment process. Mentorship programs should be introduced and give women the same opportunities as their male counterparts in order to create more diversity in the industry in order to increase efficiency and creativity in the construction industry. Working conditions at construction sites should also be improved to include toilets for both genders that has been problematic especially when a female participant as practitioner is at site.