The “invasion of women”? Challenges to gender norms and relations with women’s increasing presence in the Mexican construction industry

This research analyzes changes in women’s positions on gender norms and in gender relations based on their interactions in the traditionally male-dominated workplace of the Mexican construction industry. The analysis is based on qualitative data collected through biographical interviews with 69 women, semi structured interviews with 21 men who work in construction and direct observation at six work sites. Key concepts from feminist sociological theory such as “doing and undoing gender” and “gendered organizations” were put into dialogue with the main results of the study. These show that in adapting to male dominated spaces and influenced by feminist discourse, women simultaneously question and negotiate with the dominant gender norms, which can be less relevant in some relations and—partially in reaction to this—more prominent in others, where inequalities are perpetuated. Even when “corrective” reactions to this gender “deviation” were observed, transformations in gender ideas and workplace interactions were seen in three central dimensions: the sexed body; naturalized gender dispositions and power relations. This research contributes to the debate on the feminization and/or de-gendering of occupations and to the study of the limits, opportunities and benefits of the broader inclusion of women in the construction industry.