Doing masculinities in construction project management: "We understand each other, but she....."
2016 (English)In: Gender in Management, ISSN 1754-2413, E-ISSN 1754-2421, Vol. 31, no 2, p. 134-153Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Purpose - This study aims to examine how masculinities are (re) producedin project- based organizations. The authors first investigate the doingof masculinities in everyday work practices in construction projectmanagement. Second, the authors investigate whether there areopportunities to perceive, or do, gender differently in this specificcontext.
Design/methodology/approach - Data are elicited from a case study ofconstruction project managers working on a infrastructure project. Theproject managers were interviewed through semi-structured informalinterviews regarding their experiences of project work. The analysis wasinspired by the competing discourses and practices of masculinity inorganizations outlined by Collinson and Hearn (1994).
Findings - The results showed how multiple masculinities coexist andoverlap in the project organization and in the everyday practices ofproject management. Both male and female project managers must adjust tothese masculine discourses and act in accordance with a particularcontext. But the results also showed opportunities to challenge themasculine norms by doing gender differently.
Practical implications - The results of this study highlightsopportunities for creating a more gender-equal work environment in theconstruction industry. The multiple ways of doing masculinity, by bothmen and women, highlights the possibilities to balance between doing itwell and differently. Such knowledge can be used in policy andstrategies for equal opportunities for men and women in organizations.
Originality/value - This study provides insights into the (re)production of multiple masculinities in construction project management.This study contributes to the criticism of the normative conceptionsthat have characterized the literature on project management. Theauthors add to the tradition of organization studies by arguing that thegender analysis of project management is important to increaseunderstandings of how projects are managed and, in this case, howmasculine discourses affect everyday work.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2016. Vol. 31, no 2, p. 134-153
Keywords [en]
Gender, Construction industry, Doing gender, Project management, Masculinities
National Category
Sociology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-27673DOI: 10.1108/GM-04-2015-0030ISI: 000381907500004Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85013498460OAI: oai:DiVA.org:miun-27673DiVA, id: diva2:928963
Projects
Personaluthyrningens betydelse, omställdningsförmåga, kompetensöverföring
Funder
VINNOVA2016-05-172016-05-172017-11-30Bibliographically approved