Ibadan Journal of the Social Sciences
Volume 13, No. 2, 2015
DOI: 10.36108/ijss/5102.31.0270
The Roles and Challenges of Women in Housing Construction in Osogbo Local Government Area, Osun State
Jimoh U.U and Oparinde .O
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Faculty of the Social Science, University of Ibadan
Abstract
Globally, housing construction is well known to be capital and labour intensive. These ‘two resources seem to elude women. Where women are found to operate in construction, it is usually at menial capacity that does not require any particular skill set. Consequently, the role and challenges of women in housing have not been adequately addressed in the literature. This study therefore examines the role of women in housing construction in Osogbo local government with a view of determining the challenges faced by women in housing construction. The study used case study research design. Both primary and secondary data were sourced for the study. Primary data were collected through a set of pretested questionnaires administered on 205 female professionals, women generally and on-site workers purposively selected in the study area. Secondary data were collected from Osogbo local government, Ministry of Lands, Physical Planning, and some Professional bodies in Osun State. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data at p d” 0.05 alpha level. The study revealed that 52.0% of women on-site were below 35 years of age. 89.3% earned N9, 000 per month; 40.0% had no formal education; the role of professional women in housing construction includes project monitoring and supervision (100.0%) and fetching of water. A total of 60.5% of the on-site respondents were faced with sexual harassment. Chi square analysis shows that there is significant difference in the role and challenges faced by women in the construction industry in Oshogbo. Women were found to have played some definite roles in the construction industry and face a lot of challenges including sexual harassments. Therefore, the role of women should be emphasized while challenges be addressed through law against such act when reported by the victims.
Keywords: Housing construction, Women on-site, Professional women, Sexual harassment and Casual labour.