Construcciones Yamaro: The power of language in fostering diversity in trades

By

In the ongoing journey to gender equality, and the attraction of diverse cohorts into trades and trades-based roles, one influential yet often overlooked tool is language. Empowered Women in Trades is putting a spotlight on the power of language in transforming trades-based industries.

By Hannah Keirl, Head of Commercial at Empowered Women in Trades.

The impact of language on the inclusivity of women, non-binary, LGBTQI+, cultural and linguistic diversity, and other diverse groups of people in trades-based industries cannot be overstated. Language plays a key role in fostering a culture of respect, collaboration and empowerment.

Language might seem like a minor player in the realm of inclusivity, but its effects ripple throughout an organisation. In fact, it can have an impact before one is even employed. Let’s take job listings as an example. Traditionally, they’ve been riddled with gendered language that subconsciously discourages women and non-binary people from applying. By adopting gender-neutral language, companies signal their commitment to a diverse workforce, encouraging more women and non-binary people to pursue careers in these industries.

For example, a construction company that previously advertised for a “tradesman” now seeks a “tradesperson”. This simple shift in language opens the door for a wider pool of applicants and brings new perspectives and skills into the industry. It’s regularly forgotten to check the body of the job advertisement’s copy; where you often find an ad for “apprentice carpenter”, then in the description there is reference to “reporting to the site foreman…” or “…assisting other tradesmen”.

Related stories:

Language also plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of respect on worksites. When communication is respectful and inclusive, it sets a standard for behaviour and interaction. This, in turn, leads to better teamwork and a more positive work environment. For instance, instead of using derogatory slang to describe female colleagues, and workers in trades and trades-based industries, people can choose to use respectful and gender-neutral language, creating a culture where all individuals are valued for their skills and contributions rather than their gender. Let us start simple. Addressing your crew at pre-start as “team” rather than “guys” or singling out the “ladies” can go a long way.

Let’s turn to safety culture. In industries like construction or manufacturing, safety is paramount. When everyone on a worksite feels valued and heard, they are more likely to speak up about safety concerns without fear of retribution. This open communication can prevent accidents and save lives. Inclusivity, driven by language, creates safer worksites.

Beyond the worksite, language can work towards the transformation of the perception of women and non-binary people in trades and trades-based industries. Encouraging stories and language that highlight successful women and non-binary people in these fields can inspire the next generation. When young people hear stories of all genders thriving in construction, engineering or civil, they are more likely to pursue these careers themselves, bridging the gender gap from the ground up.

The impact of language isn’t limited to job descriptions and worksite interactions; it extends to company policies and initiatives. Gender-neutral policies for parental leave, flexible work hours and mentorship programs can make it easier for women to navigate trades and trades-based industries. Allowing men to have these same opportunities helps to bridge the gap. Language used in these policies signals that the company values work-life balance and career growth for all employees, irrespective of gender.

The power of language to create a better culture on worksites, across teams and throughout industry attraction and retention programs is an important pillar of diversity and inclusion.

When in doubt, just remember – jobs don’t have genders.

The post The power of language in fostering diversity in trades appeared first on Inside Construction.



View Source

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ways to Keep your Privacy in a Balcony

By
Image
An apartment has no specific space to enjoy small reunions with friends and relatives out in the open, but if you are lucky enough to have a balcony, you will have an extra space with natural light. However, there is a downside because it does not grant you any privacy. It is not a good idea to shut this space down with some walls and a small window since it will interfere with the flow of air. There are several ways to enjoy a balcony and to have some privacy while you are at it, and Construcciones Yamaro gives you some ideas to do so: 1. -  Bamboo blinds : Bamboo is an ecofriendly element so is excellent for the environment, which is ideal to give a natural touch to this area . Bamboo blinds are easy to set because this is a light and flexible material. It will give you privacy and it will create a barrier to block sunrays, thus giving freshness to the rooms. 2. -  Plants : They are a great idea if you privacy fo
Read more

More About Materials: The Concrete Brick

By
Image
Concrete Bricks Construcciones Yamaro  is a company always aware about giving information about  construction  to its customers. The company provides details and  characteristics about the materials   used in every work the company does .  More than a  construction company , Construcciones Yamaro is an ally to its customers that work together to achieve big goals. For today’s article, Construcciones Yamaro has decided to continue with the presentation of some characteristics about other construction material:  the concrete b rick . The concrete brick is a construction material whose composition is based on  the Portland cement, sand, water and other additives . Usually, it is used to substitute cast cement in the construction of walls, footings and other structures. Uses of the concrete blocks The concrete brick can be usually find in  standard size pieces  which are  rectangular of 8 x 8 x 16 inch size  (20 x 20 40 cm approximately), and typically have about 3/8 inch (a
Read more

Construcciones Yamaro: Information about Productive Maintenance

By
Image
TPM Construcctiones Yamaro , committed to the  development of the construction sector  in Venezuela, explains what is important to know about  Total Productive Maintenance  in order  to optimize all processes and achieve efficiency  of all involved aspects in the construction sector. Total Productive Maintenance or TPM is a strategy  that includes a series of activities created by the  Japan Institute for Plant Maintenance  which helps to improve the competitiveness of an industry organization or services through improved personal strategy and the teams. What are the goals of TPM? Zero accidents. Zero defects in products and services. Zero losses in all departments. TPM only considers the staff to develop strategies? Implementing TPM to your company It is not mandatory to consider only the staff; as a global strategy, analysis of efficiency of machinery, equipment, tools and systems are also considered,  identifying the possible causes that may alter its optimu
Read more