Download PDFOpen PDF in browserImprove Female Participation in Construction Using Storytelling9 pages•Published: May 26, 2024AbstractRecognizing a severe workforce shortage, the construction industry is now keen on diversifying its talent pool, particularly by attracting female students to construction science, engineering, or management (CM) programs. Despite previous efforts to engage female students in construction, they have not yielded the desired results. To address this issue, this study created a series of stories about women in construction, drawing from interviews with over 30 women currently active in the field. These narratives aim to inspire more female students to consider careers in construction and boost female participation. The stories, integrated with interview content, were disseminated online and subsequently assessed by 53 female undergraduate students. The findings indicated a positive impact, revealing that the stories played a pivotal role in boosting the confidence of these students in pursuing careers in construction. By offering a nuanced perspective into the diverse paths within CM professions, the stories empowered these potential female professionals, enabling them to envision and strive for success in an industry traditionally dominated by males. Offering a tangible and relatable portrayal of women's experiences in the industry, this study provided an easily accessible resource for individuals, organizations, and educational institutions interested in promoting gender diversity in construction.Keyphrases: construction education, female participation, interview, storytelling, women in construction In: Tom Leathem, Wes Collins and Anthony Perrenoud (editors). Proceedings of 60th Annual Associated Schools of Construction International Conference, vol 5, pages 330-338.
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