O segundo sexo no canteiro de obras: estudo sobre a atuação feminina nos canteiros de obras da construção civil

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the insertion of the female workforce in civil construction from a Marxist perspective and a methodological approach that articulates, in a dialectical and inseparable manner, quantitative and qualitative analyses. It starts from the premise that increasing female presence on construction sites does not, in itself, represent an emancipatory process for women. From this perspective, the research seeks to critically understand female insertion in light of the sector's structural conditions. To understand the international landscape of female participation in the sector, data from the International Labour Organization (ILO) were used, while at the national level, information produced by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE/PNAD) and data from the Annual Social Information Report (RAIS) were gathered. The empirical investigation focused on female labor in operational roles across three large-scale construction sites in Rio de Janeiro. The methodology comprised documentary analysis, direct observation, and semi-structured interviews with workers in the operational areas. The research findings indicate that the exclusion and underrepresentation of women on construction sites stem not only from physical or technical limitations but also from historical-social and ideological factors that structure society. The socio-sexual division of labor persists, directing men to activities with higher physical and technical demands, while relegating women to functions associated with feminized attributes—such as dexterity, patience, and care—reproducing domestic labor logics and reinforcing historically consolidated gender hierarchies. Nonetheless, female insertion into the sector is considered an important pathway for women's autonomy and empowerment—a perception shared by the workers themselves—providing benefits such as formalization, better pay, status, and social security. This research offers insights into understanding gender asymmetries on construction sites, contributing to the debate on more appropriate strategies for incorporating the female workforce into the civil construction sector, grounded in the principles of social justice and the full autonomy of women.