'Real men are tough guys': Hegemonic masculinity and safety in the construction industry

Drawing on participant-observation research and 20 interviews with tradesmen, this article explores the link between masculinity and occupational health and safety (OH&S) in the Australian (state of Victoria) construction industry. The main contention of the article is that the hegemonic masculine construct most commonly found on building sites serves to create a gender hierarchy, and this informal power matrix influences builders' perceptions of OH&S. Within this context, the article examines a range of topics including horseplay, alcohol consumption, the importance of risk and physical prowess, tradesmen's attitudes toward women, and one-upmanship