I have read, with much interest your articles covering sexual discrimiantion within the construction industry!

I am a female painter & Decorator of 14 years, and I work purely in the construction industry, I am also Managing Director of a B1 Approved Decorating Contractor, working for the Major Construction Groups. I experience discrimation on a reqular basis, mostly I ignore it, but currently I cant. I was discrimated against last Thursday, My male counterpart was following a lead on a job we very much wanted to be a part of, we were told there was plenty of work and they were desperate for painters, we were invited to visit the site there and then, which we did, we were shown around by the foreman and told we could start Monday, which we were delighted about, but sadly, within an hour my male counterpart received a call to say he could have a start but I couldnt, he was told that 7 other painters would be starting Monday and he couldnt very well start a woman at the same time, he also said his foreman was uncomfortable with the fact I was a woman, and the result was I was denied a start on an important site in Brighton, whilst my male counterpart was offered one. No attempt was made to hide the fact, the discrimination was blatant. The Decorating contractor in question is employed by a major constructor 'Willmott Dixon' who claims to be and 'equal opportunites employer, they are even mentioned in a report written by the CIOB aemploying twice as many women as any other company with women making up 8.2 percent of the proffessionals involved in construction, yet this company are refusing to supply me the Company name and address of the Decorating Contractor in question, after asking them 5 times for this information.

I have read many articles regarding 'sexual discrimination in the construction industry' it would be nice to think that one day men and women will work shoulder to shoulder to acheive the same goals, but as long as people are allowed to get away with blatant sexual discrimination things will never change.

I am very proud of my accomplishments, I am also very talanted as a painter and excel at my proffession, I work longer hours and usually all weekend if I have to, often I am the only person on site when working late, I have a Portfolio any painter would be proud of and yet it still isnt enough, sometimes I wish I'd been born male just so I can get on in my chosen career without having to experience and be hindered by sexual discrimination on a regular basis.

I'm sorry to say this, but there is a bit of 'get over it' in my answer.  The comments that happen in all female environments are no better - For example the myth that women are naturally better organised, better at setting up reception events etc is common where I work, but even more so is the idea that men have to do all the physical aspects of any job.  In my workplace women get a pay benefit from not doing physical aspects - men get a pay deficit when their jobs involve some manual lifting - so the net result is that a more comfortable, less physically demanding position in a female environment routes men into lower pay versions.

There is also a good amount of latent sexism in that a woman doing a terrible job is protected and encouraged (and in fact often rewarded with extra support) but men (and especially an unattractive man) are openly criticised and support is withdrawn.

I work in a sector that is 54% female, yet there are heavily promoted 'bring your daughter to work' days, female development programmes and rulings such as 'there should always be a female on an interview panel when the candidate is female', but I have been for many interviews where the panel is all female when the candidate is male.

Unfortunately there is inequality all over the shop.  Male to Female brings an outpouring of outrage.  Women to men is percieved as acceptable.

Hi Paula,

I have just read your posting.  I disagree with the reply which you posted, this kind of treatment is unacceptable whether the victim is male or female.  You do have legal rights here; whether you want to take action to enforce those rights is a matter for you, however, the treatment you describe that you were subjected to is what is known as direct sex discrimination and in law there is no defence to it where it is found to have occurred. 

You could pursue an employment tribunal claim if you wish to.  You could also submit what is called a sex discrimination questionnaire to try to force the company concerned to explain why they did not offer you a job, whether any other women were offered jobs etc.  Questionnaires can be a useful tool to unearth discrimination.

In this case you could also arguably proceed against the main contractor for its refusal to ensure that its contractors do not discriminate on the grounds of gender.  You could at least threaten to take such action as a way of finding out the details of the contractor who did discriminate against you.

You should go to see either a local employment lawyer, a citizens advice bureau or failing that contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission (www.cehr.org.uk) and ask if they will assist either with a questionnaire or with ET proceedings.  They also ought to be able to assist to find the address of the contractor in question.

You will need to act quickly as there are fairly strict 3 month time limits on bringing claims - extensions of time are only granted in limited circumstances.  Also, you need to speak with the male counterpart you mention to see if he willing be willing to assist as his evidence will be crucial in any ET hearing.  He will be protected from any victimisation from the employer for having helped you, but might still be reluctant to get involved, which will significantly impact on your prospects of success.

I should warn you that it might not be straightforward to pursue an ET claim and it might not be worth a huge amount of money either as if you have been busy with other contracts in the intervening period you will not be able to show much in the way of loss of earnings.  However, if you are successful an employment tribunal will make an award for injury to feelings, will also make a declaration that you were treated unlawfully, and may also make recommendations to the contractor as to its future treatment of you, for instance, that you be offered the opportunity of working for them on their next project, that they implement proper equal opportunities training for all staff etc.

Kind regards

Paul