ABSTRACT
South Africa's construction industry remains structurally unequal, with women facing entrenched barriers to participation and leadership. This qualitative study critically reviews women's leadership in the sector through a feminist and social justice lens, using content analysis of policy documents, industry reports, and scholarly literature. Despite policy instruments such as the Employment Equity Act, B-BBEE, and CIDB charters, the findings reveal ongoing challenges, including patriarchal norms, symbolic compliance, and limited access to mentorship and skills development. The study proposes a Gender Transformation Action Framework aligned with SDGs 5, 8, and 10, offering strategic interventions such as cultural transformation, leadership inclusion, and enforceable accountability mechanisms. Women's leadership is shown to be a driver of innovation, equity, and long-term sustainability in the built environment. This research contributes by positioning gender equity not only as a justice issue but as a catalyst for inclusive growth and systemic transformation in infrastructure development.
