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Women used as sexually suggestive entertainment—it’s nothing new, not even in the construction industry. But in 2024, we are well and truly done with it. This week, the organizers of a British construction event learned that lesson too.
Last week, I came across images on LinkedIn: women dressed in fluorescent, tight-fitting outfits, balancing on stilts, wearing helmets, and reflective stripes. Anyone who has been in the construction industry for a while knows that women are often portrayed as objects of desire. This isn’t limited to scantily clad women on calendars in the break room. At trade shows, it’s often women in sexy outfits handing out flyers or performing other supporting roles. The idea behind this is that it would be entertaining for the men attending.
This is likely what the organizers of the British On The Tools event had in mind. So, women were dressed in tight outfits, balancing on stilts or twirling hoops.
Women in sexy workwear spark debate at construction event
During the event, some attendees spoke out against this approach, but their voices were ignored. Thanks to smartphones and the internet, however, the images quickly made their way online.
Harriet Waley-Cohen, an expert in workplace diversity, wrote about the event in a LinkedIn post. In her post, she highlighted how the outfits suggested that women are seen as eye candy rather than as professionals to be taken seriously. She also shared some shocking statistics: a 2023 survey found that one in four women in the construction industry had been sexually harassed or assaulted, amounting to 74,000 women in England alone.
Faye Allen, quantity surveyor working in the construction industry and former director at construction company Arcadis, also posted on LinkedIn. She expressed her shock and revealed she is writing a book inspired by these kinds of experiences in the industry.
A lack of oversight on the outfits
Shortly after, Lee Wilcox, CEO of On The Tools, issued a statement on LinkedIn, apologizing and claiming he had not been directly responsible for the idea. He had requested a construction theme but admitted that he hadn’t reviewed the outfits.
While he took full responsibility and expressed openness to dialogue, criticism soon arose in the comments. If the outfits were the sole issue, why wasn’t the matter addressed during the event? The women could have been asked to leave. And why was so much attention given to entertaining men, especially in a sector trying to attract more women?
These are valid questions. Although Wilcox’s apology was well-worded, without shifting blame, it revealed a lack of understanding of the underlying problem.
Attracting more women to construction
The issue isn’t the outfits or the shortage of women in construction, even though this shortage is often cited in similar debates. Many organizations and industry bodies aim to recruit more women into the workforce. Clearly, actions like this event are counterproductive to that goal.
However, these are symptoms of a deeper issue: the patriarchal culture that allows such treatment of women. Across many professions and social issues, women’s value and respect are treated as secondary concerns, and construction is a prime example.
The consequence of disrespecting women is that they feel uncomfortable and leave the workplace. The shortage of women in the sector is a result, not the cause. And the same applies to this event—the clothing isn’t the problem, but the lack of respect for women is.
The core issue
Why isn’t this openly addressed within the industry? Why do campaigns focus on how women can help address labor shortages in construction instead of addressing the reasons why women are hesitant to join?
This touches on an uncomfortable truth: the acknowledgment of a deeply rooted problem. A problem that requires individuals and their colleagues to take a hard look at themselves. Acknowledging that construction isn’t very woman-friendly is something many are willing to do. But admitting that one’s own workplace lacks respect for women is far more confrontational. After all, you’ve always treated women with respect, haven’t you? It’s the others who are at fault. So it’s not your problem, right?
On LinkedIn, I see many women sharing stories of unpleasant experiences, some even explaining why they left the industry. Men’s responses, however, often differ. While some emphasize the importance of a woman-friendly work environment, others downplay the issue, praise the event organizers, or even dismiss the story as “woke nonsense” or claim that all publicity is good publicity—good or bad.
A problem for everyone
It’s easier to look away than to confront the issue. When men do acknowledge the problem, they often emphasize, “not all men are like this.” Of course not—not all men. Yet, this phrase softens the problem, making it seem less urgent, so the status quo can continue uninterrupted.
However, a workplace that disrespects women isn’t just a problem for women. It’s a societal issue. Research shows that gender equality creates safer societies with less likelihood of war and violence. Additionally, companies with more women in leadership positions tend to outperform those without.
Still, I find myself relying on data, research, and numbers to make the case. Ultimately, it comes down to one thing: respect. And that should be enough.
I’ll end this article with a quote from a famous poet.
And since we all came from a womanGot our name from a woman and our game from a womanI wonder why we take from our women(…) do we hate our women? I think it’s time to kill for our women Time to heal our women, be real to our womenAnd if we don’t we’ll have a race of babiesThat will hate the ladies, that make the babies
Greetings,