Construction TikTok is paving the way to raise awareness about sexism as women in the industry use the social networking app to fight for meaningful change
“So how did a pretty girl like you do end up in construction?!”, “Love the effort but women still belong in the kitchen. Not a job site. You’re hot though!”, and “Work a woman’s job you’d be much better at it!” are just some of the many inappropriate comments women have to deal with in the construction industry.
The popular video-focused social networking service app TikTok includes of millions of poignant yet tongue-in-cheek videos where women discuss the realities of working in the construction. In these short clips they discuss some of the most common prejudices and stereotypes they encounter daily. Although these women use humour and sarcasm to present the harsh reality of their professional life, the phenomenon of gender-based discrimination is not a topic to be taken lightly.
According to a study by Workwear Guru on such online content posted by women in construction, these construction TikTok videos are essential to bringing attention to the male-dominated culture prevalent in the industry. Furthermore, the videos demonstrate how women are sometimes forced to leave the industry as a direct result of this kind of behaviour and environment. The videos aim to be transparent in order to help the future generation of female construction workers.
Portraying the struggles of women in a male-dominated culture
From catcalls to mansplaining, women in construction have to deal with a lot. Working in construction presents a toxic environment – women are subjected to sexist comments and abuse when simply trying to do their job. One TikTok user recreates a scenario where she tried to explain to one of her male co-workers that she does not feel comfortable with him flirting with her during work. However, the co-worker brushes the issue aside by trying to play everything off as a joke, saying it is not a big deal, and even blaming the woman for her discomfort.
In similar videos, many women recreate scenarios when male co-workers made them feel uneasy with their sexist comments. Women are lending support to one another as they attempt to navigate a work environment historically regarded as masculine. Overall, the videos present a united front against sexism in the workplace.
Inspiring women to not give up on their profession
Dealing with constant sexism is not easy. Although research shows that many women leave the industry due to the male-dominated culture and discrimination they face, others hope to inspire females through their stories and show them that it is possible to make it as a woman in construction. Women shared TikTok videos explaining how having confidence in their abilities, holding co-workers accountable for their comments, and sometimes having a good cry in the bathroom helps them push through and succeed in continuing their journey in the construction world.
Drawing attention to gender-based discrimination and poor working conditions
The first step in solving a problem is recognising there is one. Many women face gender-based discrimination expressed through male co-workers undermining their abilities to succeed in this field when working in the construction industry. Through their TikTok videos, women are helping bring forward imbalances that should not be present in our society.
Other common problems women in construction are unhappy with is the shared washroom facilities that offer little to no privacy for them. Another major issue is unequal pay. Women earn 25% less than their male counterparts. A shared goal of the TikTok women in construction is to have more women join the workforce so they can together fight against these discriminations.
Through the TikTok platform, women connect with, educate, and inspire other women to join the construction industry. Because careers in construction are generally either not suggested as options to young women or presented as occupations for males only, it is of paramount importance for qualified women to guide others interested in the construction field. Although creative construction TikTok videos about women in construction might seem inconsequential, they are helping promote change in an industry that undoubtedly needs it.
