For some women, walking into a room of only men can be intimidating, but for construction management junior Lauren Couchis, it’s just another day in class.The construction management major is not usually associated with women, but a growing number of female students are taking interest in the field.Assistant professor in construction management Emerald Roider estimates that of the more than 600 students in construction management major, about 40 are women.Nationally, 900,000 women work in construction management, which constitutes about 10 percent of the total workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.
“We see the industry overall is growing with great projections forward, and women have a growing place there,” said Julie Lyssy, marketing director of the National Association of Women in Construction.But the major is not always as rough and gritty as it seems.”When you think construction, you think building with hammers and nails — that’s not always it,” Couchis said.
While on-site visits are necessary, positions like safety engineers or working in planning and scheduling are not outdoor jobs, Couchis said.”The perception of construction management needs to change,” Roider said. “As we move towards more environmental engineering and green building, I think more females will be interested in the major.”Roider began work in construction management in 1998. At that time it was harder for women to get jobs in the field, she said.”You had to be more aggressive,” Roider said.Now more options are available, and women can choose between working in an office or on-site, Roider said.However, experience in both areas is needed to become a project manager, Roider said.”When I was little, I danced and played piano. Construction management is the last thing I thought I’d do,” Couchis said.Couchis’ roommate during her freshman year was a construction management major at the time and introduced her to the idea.Her roommate’s work seemed interesting and it stuck with Couchis, so she registered for classes the following semester.Couchis said her parents were surprised by her major choice and thought she wouldn’t stick with it.In her first class, Couchis was the only woman. Her classmates said little to her, and it took time to get to know other students.”It was intimidating at first. In the beginning I didn’t even like it,” Couchis said.Couchis said she initially felt like men were at an advantage because they knew construction basics before starting college.”Most girls come in knowing nothing,” she said. “You’re really starting at the bottom.” But Couchis found there are advantages in being a woman in the field.Women tend to stand out because there are so few in the major, and teachers have an easier time remembering their names, Couchis said.”Though boys know more coming in, girls usually pay more attention to detail and are better at multitasking,” Couchis said.But the work is still challenging and Couchis has to stay organized to keep on top of material.”Teachers go fast. They expect you to already know parts of materials, at first I wouldn’t know what some words meant in lectures,” said Couchis.Couchis said she now enjoys her male-domonated classes and most students are friends outside of class.”The funniest thing that’s happened to me is when a guy that I’ve never seen before asks me about class,” said construction management senior Ella Godwin. “You definitely stand out.”Girls in the major also share a close bond.”You do kind of band together,” Godwin said. “I feel like I’m friends with most everyone, but my best friends are the girls.”Godwin said being a woman gives her an advantage in searching for jobs, but has been with met with some skepticism by employers during interviews.”I worked offshore over the summer with all boys,” Godwin said. “Interviewers couldn’t believe I would be comfortable there.” Female employers are frequently more discouraging in interviews, possibly because of the difficulty they had in the past, said construction management senior Rebecca Magee.Construction management also provides opportunities to network and get involved.”If a female student shows initiative and drive, she can get ahead,” Roider said.Couchis is banquet chair for the Construction Student Association. She is organizing the annual banquet for more than 200 guests, ranging from construction management alumni to companies looking for future employees.”It’s the most companies in one place at one time,” Couchis said. Couchis is one of two female officers on the CSA board of about 15 students, she said.—————Contact Grace Montgomery at [email protected]