BALANCING ACTS: NAVIGATING PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEMANDS AMONG WOMEN IN TURKEY'S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AMID ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

The construction industry has long grappled with gender disparities, with women severely underrepresented in several occupations. Understanding the contextual elements that shape women's career paths in male-dominated organizations is essential for achieving gender parity. This research looks at how regional cultural norms and socioeconomic variables affect women's career advancement in Turkey's Central Anatolia construction sector. The study used a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and qualitative interviews, to investigate gender representation, career paths, and prejudice. The findings demonstrated a diversified workforce, notably among construction engineers and architects, but also identified ongoing challenges such as restricted career possibilities, gender discrimination, and workplace prejudices. To address these difficulties, the paper proposed focused activities at the organizational, industry, and social levels. It also suggested longitudinal research and qualitative methodologies for investigating the connections of gender, race, and socioeconomic position. Survey respondents, including engineers and real estate consultants, identified gender stereotypes, workplace culture, and a lack of female role models as important hurdles to change, while mentoring programs and gender-inclusive efforts were viewed as essential drivers of change. Despite some improvement, males continue to dominate leadership roles, perpetuating gender inequities. The study emphasized inclusive measures for increasing gender diversity and promoting women's careers in construction.