Gender and the Housing Production Process: A Bibliographic Survey of Women’s Engagement and Challenges

Housing remains a global challenge, with access and involvement in the housing production process shaped by gender, varying across national contexts. This article reviews women’s engagement, comparing women’s participation in housing production between developed and developing countries. It discusses the activities women engage in, their rate of participation, the challenges they face and ways to improve their engagement. Research indicates that women’s engagement in housing creation is low and varies between developed and developing countries. Women participate and are involved in decision-making; planning; supervision; physical construction and maintenance, in both the self-build and construction industry. However, patriarchy, along with societal and cultural beliefs, economic, legal and educational barriers limit their participation in house construction. Ensuring women’s access to land, promoting gender-sensitive education and training, improving legal literacy, implementing gender-friendly policies and establishing supportive frameworks are essential for creating an environment where women can thrive in housing production.