A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1999

The construction industry plays an important role in national economic and social development and has the high potential to provide employment opportunities and to develop people's lives, especially for women, who historically have been the most disadvantaged in terms of autonomy and advancement. Although such employment opportunities benefited women, especially those with low education and less skill, there is increasing debate about the success of such strategy while women have tended to get very limited employment opportunity than their male counterparts and faced gender specific constraints such as unequal and dissimilar pattern of occupational distribution, wage disparity, little training facilities, occupational health hazards and other facilities available for them and potential for their employment. The present research addresses these issues by analysing field data. The field research conducted in the Greater Dhaka District included field observations, formal questionnaire survey on construction workers, interview with the management, related personnel and secondary information collection from the relevant organisations. The study has revealed that gender inequalities in the construction occupation not only related to the gender difference. In human capital such as education and skill, the socially culturally determined gender relations is one of the major barriers for women's limited job opportunities as well as career prospect in the construction industry. Finally, co-ordination among government agencies, construction companies, trade unions and related organizations is very important for successful implementation of women's socio economic development.