Women slowly make headway in real estate industry.

A long time in coming, but realty and construction are no longer male-only

Twenty or 30 years ago, seeing women in hard hats leading construction crews through a project or skilled craftswomen fusing together the structure of a downtown office building was a rare sight indeed.

Today, those doors to working in commercial real estate and construction are open--even though many admit it's been a slow transition for the industries and for some women, as they were forced to struggle against discrimination on the job site and in the business world.

"This business can be rough," says Sheryl Page, owner and president of Page One consultants in Orlando, Fla. "You have to be persistent, and you need mentors. And you have to remember that you are out there to do your job."

Woman's work

To be sure, women are making major contributions in today's commercial real estate and construction industries.

In commercial real estate, women are doing more than brokering deals and leasing space: They are establishing careers as property appraisers, …