Reframing the Built Environment: Reflections from International Women’s Day

Last week, I attended the Cratus Group and LDPF International Women’s Day breakfast session ahead of the release of the report Gender Equality in the Built Environment Sector. The session featured a panel of inspiring industry leaders who shared their experiences of discrimination and the persistent power imbalances that exist—not just across many sectors, but particularly within development. For women to achieve the same success as men, they often have to work harder, navigate additional challenges, and overcome more obstacles.

A recurring theme was the structural and cultural barriers that hinder women’s progression in the built environment sector. Issues around flexible working, the lack of childcare support, and exclusionary workplace cultures were all highlighted. Yet beyond these systemic challenges, a key interpersonal issue emerged: women’s voices are often undervalued. Many attendees recounted instances where their contributions were ignored or, worse, repeated by male colleagues who then took the credit. These patterns reinforce existing inequalities and make it even harder for women to succeed, which led me to reflect:

How does gender shape the built environment sector?

The built environment is not just a physical space it is a reflection of the people who design, plan, and construct it. Historically, this has been a male-dominated industry, and as a result, our housing, infrastructure, and public spaces have been shaped largely through a male lens. You only have to look at 1960s tower blocks, poorly lit streets and parks and a lack of public toilets to see that they were designed and built almost exclusively by men. An overly masculine world has prioritised scale, function, and efficiency, often neglecting more refined, human-centred, inclusive considerations. The result is environments that can feel impersonal, intimidating, or even unsafe, particularly for women and marginalised groups.

Throughout history, how much of the female contribution to the built environment has been overlooked or credited to men? Only in recent years have we started to treat urban design as a true co-creation across genders.

Women remain dramatically underrepresented in housebuilding and the wider construction industry. In the UK, as of 2024, there were 1.77 million men compared to just 271,000 women in the sector. Looking at early education, we see that girls tend to be more organised and often outperform boys at all stages of schooling. Yet boys are more frequently encouraged to take risks and are overexposed to traditionally male-dominated professions. When I was growing up, it was certainly Bob the Builder, although a recent foray into the Paw Patrol universe with my nephews suggests some progress in shaping early career aspirations. However, the risk distinction carries real-world consequences. In 2023/24, 95% of workplace fatalities in the UK were among male workers, largely due to their overrepresentation in more hazardous professions.

Throughout my career, I have always found female colleagues to be both highly skilled and far more organised than men. As the panel accurately summarised, “It is okay for a man to be seen as highly skilled even if he is not highly organised, whereas women are expected to be both.” The standards set for women are different and often higher than those laid out for men. If our industries are to be truly meritocratic, we should see greater representation of women across all roles. A more diverse workforce would also bring significant benefits, particularly in tackling challenges related to safety and well-being.

What needs to happen next?

International Women’s Day is a moment for reflection, but it should also serve as a call to action that extends beyond an annual event. We must move beyond outdated gender stereotypes and foster a working environment where everyone feels valued, safe, and supported.

Rather than viewing each other as competition, we should focus on how we complement one another celebrating and rewarding the inherent strengths of all genders through equitable pay, seniority, and respect. As the report states, a different approach is possible and can be achieved through better policies, increased mentorship, and industry-wide accountability. Men have a critical role in shaping this narrative through allyship, calling out workplace discrimination, and empowering women to challenge the structural barriers that persist.

By challenging biases, breaking down barriers, and reimagining the built environment with inclusivity at its core every single day, we can take meaningful strides toward a truly equitable sector for all.