Managing Hypermasculinity in Construction

About the Project

Construction remains one of the most male-dominated industries in the UK, with men making up 85% of the total workforce, including 98% of all manual workers. This picture is often reflected globally, with women accounting for 11% of construction sector employment (RICS, 2022). There are notable exceptions in some countries of South Asia, where women participate in unskilled, low paid work, and in India, where up to 30% of construction workers are women, mostly operating in informal construction as unskilled manual workers (Parry, 2014; ILO, 2025).

In a UK context, construction has been described as one of the last traditional male working-class jobs, with Thiel (2014) characterising construction as a pre-modern ‘industry’ that exists in a post-industrial world, in which “time banditry, the builders’ fierce protection of their autonomy, and the frequency of ‘the crack’” are a central part of informal work culture. Research in the sector indicates that 73% or employees believe that perceptions of a sexist culture are a major reason why women are under-represented in the industry (CITB, 2015), with younger women identifying ‘industry culture’ and ‘working conditions’ as the main reasons for leaving the industry (Baker et al, 2024). Yet, Construction Management research has so far failed to really engage with changing configurations of masculinity in different construction contexts, or how the masculine work culture and stereotypes function, including in socially excluding entire social groups.

Hypermasculinity refers to an exaggeration of male stereotypical behaviour – aggression, physical strength, and sexuality – but may also be manifested in such traits as risk-taking, total availability and long working hours. The UK construction sector is commonly described as experiencing a mental health crisis, with over half of all employees feeling unable to disclose mental health or psychological conditions, and construction workers four times more likely to commit suicide than the national average (Reed, 2023).

There has been surprising little ethnographic or other empirical research into construction workplace masculinities or how the performance of embodied, gendered and spatial practices help maintain the construction of the “tough, aggressive and dirty working-class-bound world of the building site” (Thiel, 2014).

This project will examine the functions of (hyper)masculine culture and practice in a particular construction labour market. It will investigate the relationship between masculine stereotypes and particular global construction trends (such as deregulation of labour markets and outsourcing of labour, deskilling, growth in health and safety culture etc.). The research will combine knowledge of construction management processes with qualitative research methods. There are many different angles to this issue, and the precise focus can be determined in relation to the applicant’s own field of expertise, as can the geographical focus.

University of Reading:

The University of Reading, located west of London, England, is ranked at 172 globally, according to the QS World University Rankings 2025. 98% of research at the University is of international standing (REF 2021, combining the University’s world leading, internationally excellent and internationally recognised submissions). The University’s main Whiteknights Campus is set in 130 hectares of beautiful, award-winning parkland, less than a 30-minute train ride to London Paddington and is approximately 30 miles from London Heathrow airport.

During your PhD at the University of Reading, you will expand your research knowledge and skills, receiving supervision and training in a number of different forms. We also provide dedicated training in important transferable skills that will support your career aspirations. If you need to develop your academic English skills before you start your studies, then the University has an excellent global Academy which can help with this.

Eligibility:

• Applicants should have a good bachelor’s degree (minimum of a UK Upper Second (2:1) or equivalent)/master’s degree in an appropriate subject and should be interested in applying social science approaches to construction and engineering topics. International applicants will also need to meet the University’s English Language requirements.
• We offer pre-sessional English courses that can help with meeting these requirements.

*The University of Reading is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and non-discriminatory treatment for all members of its community.*

How to apply:

Submit an application for a PhD in Construction Management via ouronline application system

Further information:

Construction Management and Engineering PhD webpage

Enquiries:

Dr Dylan Tutt, e-mail: d.e.tutt@reading.ac.uk