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Advancing gender equality in the construction sector through public procurement: Making effective use of responsive regulation

Author

Listed:
  • Tessa Wright

    (School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University of London, UK)

  • Hazel Conley

    (Faculty of Business and Law, University of the West of England, UK)

Abstract

Labour market segregation continues to be a major barrier to gender equality, with the construction industry an example of a particularly male-dominated sector. Drawing on evidence from the Women into Construction project, established to increase women’s opportunities to work on the construction of London’s Olympic Park, the article argues that public procurement is a potentially powerful tool for breaking down gender segregation. This is particularly effective when new forms of responsive and reflexive legislation require private sector contractors to achieve social objectives. The authors argue that this could be made more effective through greater powers of engagement for stakeholders, including trade unions.

Suggested Citation

  • Tessa Wright & Hazel Conley, 2020. "Advancing gender equality in the construction sector through public procurement: Making effective use of responsive regulation," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 41(4), pages 975-996, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ecoind:v:41:y:2020:i:4:p:975-996
    DOI: 10.1177/0143831X17745979
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sandra Fielden & Marilyn Davidson & Andrew Gale & Caroline Davey, 2000. "Women in construction: the untapped resource," Construction Management and Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(1), pages 113-121.
    2. Janet Druker & Geoffrey White, 2013. "Employment relations on major construction projects: the London 2012 Olympic construction site," Industrial Relations Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(5-6), pages 566-583, November.
    3. Philip James & David Walters & Helen Sampson & Emma Wadsworth, 2015. "Protecting workers through supply chains: Lessons from two construction case studies," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 36(4), pages 727-747, November.
    4. McCrudden, Christopher, 2007. "Buying Social Justice: Equality, Government Procurement, & Legal Change," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199232437.
    5. Leah F Vosko & John Grundy & Mark P Thomas, 2016. "Challenging new governance: Evaluating new approaches to employment standards enforcement in common law jurisdictions," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 37(2), pages 373-398, May.
    6. Hazel Conley, 2014. "Trade unions, equal pay and the law in the UK," Economic and Industrial Democracy, Department of Economic History, Uppsala University, Sweden, vol. 35(2), pages 309-323, May.
    7. Linda Dickens, 2007. "The Road is Long: Thirty Years of Equality Legislation in Britain," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 45(3), pages 463-494, September.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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