Creating An Inclusive Built Environment: Achieving Gender Equality In The Real Estate Industry

There is evidence of gender imbalance in the real estate industry from available academic and industry studies. However, existing studies for this research were mainly conducted on justifying gender inequality in the built environment/real estate industry. Therefore, the research aims to investigate the factors that can lead to a more inclusive built environment, especially in the real estate industry. The research study utilized primary and secondary sources of data collection. The data was collected from female practitioners in the built environment through interviews. Analyses of leading real estate organizations' organograms, annual reports, and 'male-to-female' ratio of employees formed the cornerstone of the quantitative aspect of the study to justify and demonstrate gender inequality. This completed the primary research methodology of the study. The secondary research included observing annual reports of the firms being studied. The actual results and findings determined how to achieve a gender-inclusive built environment. The study showed that there is a lack of diversity and inclusivity in the real estate industry. Females also undertake more non-technical roles such as estate agents, while males prefer more technical positions such as property valuers. The gender composition, especially, favours males the higher one goes up the corporate ladder. In conclusion, the study recommended achieving a gender-inclusive built environment based on the results gathered from the data collected. In addition, the theoretical applications concluded from the research findings allow for future research on the 'cause and effect' of an exclusive real estate sector and how it can be rectified.