Women in Architecture: An Overview

The idea of ‘women in architecture’ in itself is a clear indication of the inequality faced by the gender bias in the profession. It reflects the fact that most well-known architects around the world are men and this has translated into being the generic ideology of the public as well. Historic oppression of the female gender, sexism, their diminished role in a society, unequal pay and harassment in profession…all of these hurdles have been passed on from generations and are in fact a big reason for the position that female architects hold in the profession even today. But besides the cultural bias, the profession is still struggling to acknowledge the identity of women and their contributions to the field. 

When we hear the words ‘women in architecture’ there are so many questions that come into our minds… Why that is when we hear the word architect, the visual of a male person pops up in our head? Why do we never hear names of female architects in our profession? Can you list down the names of more than 3-5 female architects?

There is no denying that the stature of women in every profession has risen in the past few years but with so many aspects in play and so many challenges to overcome, the hope for equal status seems dwindling in many scenarios. Even with the best intentions of reversing these trends in the 21st century and the upliftment of women in every aspect of profession and well-being, their presence in architecture field is rarely recognized. 

 

Feminism in architecture

Feminism is making a comeback as we’ve seen a resurgence to a more outspoken, politically motivated, and militant feminist movement in the last decade or two. Women from all over the world and from many social and cultural backgrounds continue to fight for equal rights in the face of persistent discrimination, sexism, and misogyny by employing new communication means and strategies.

Regardless of what “kind” of feminist theory is at the core, it’s a growing progressive philosophy that is inherently positive because it promotes progress. Feminism allows you to expand your mind and think differently about architecture education and the larger design industry by calling attention to centuries-old aspects that no longer need replication in modern programs. By allowing us to associate people with systems, feminism helps us understand the way certain structures and societal norms affect our choices as consumers and professionals alike. And feminism encourages the expansion of architecture schools offering new methods of training students who want to be part of the creation process!

In and outside of classrooms and studio spaces of architecture schools around the world, collectives of young female architects are creating awareness about the silences, gaps, omissions of curriculum. These groups are not only asking questions about architectural education but also demanding a critical assessment and reorientation towards more socially and environmentally sustainable futures.

 

The condition of female architects in the field

Although there are many women who are famous for their contributions to architecture, there are still some aspects of this field which are heavily gender-biased. This problem can be traced back to architecture schools itself, where the journey begins for most students under the influence of minimal female teachers and guides all the way to the syllabus not shedding light on the contributions of female architects in shaping the architecture profession of today. It directly influences the number of women we see in the field today which is still very low in comparison to the number of males who are involved in this profession. Even when there is no physical difference in the skills possessed by male and female designers, the fact is that there are still fewer women than men in leading positions in the field. 

Workplace issues of harassment and income gap between man and women are majorly contributing to restricting the female count in the field. These reasons have been brought to light owing to many movements fighting for rights of women, the image of the office is tarnished with the previous reputation. The income issues have been refreshed under laws and regulations but the gap is prevalent in not just numbers but qualitative aspects of the workspace as well. Gender biased assumptions about women often come in the way of them reaching their work targets and earning equal status to male architects.

The tangible elements of inequality are constantly under the spotlight but we cannot undermine the experiential issues faced by women in the workplace. The contribution of female architects is judged on the amount of work that they put into it, rather than the work itself. The pleasant fact that women juggle their professional careers well with their personal life and responsibilities is the toast of every party, but focusing on what their actual contribution was to the field in terms of work quality and professional relations is barely acknowledged. 

The idea of women in a workplace needs to be transformed as they long for recognition and representation. 

 

Female leaders in architecture

As the name of Zaha Hadid resonates in our minds, we are reminded of her achievements not only in terms of creating architectural marvels but also bringing women in architecture at the forefront by receiving acknowledgement from the entire world population. Her work has paved a new path for female architects where the barriers of assumptions are slowly being lifted. 

Women in architecture are diversifying their contribution to the field as they extends the bounds of their work across wider disciplines and audiences. There are women like Neri Oxmon, who is doing revolutionary work redefining the extents of architecture and design itself. The Israeli American professor founded a lab called the Mediated Matter group, where she develops hybrid biological systems. Her work lies on the intersections of computational design and biological sciences, creating biologically inspired architecture and vice versa.

Jean Gang of Gang studio has managed to break the stereotype by designing an impressive skyscraper standing out in a sea of male designed high rise projects. She has also worked extensively on creating awareness of gender inequality in architecture and the pay gap. Gabriel Bullock represents African American women in the field and has risen to a high position with recognition for her work on relevant social issues such as affordable housing, universal access and inclusivity. Odile Decq is not only admired for her unorthodox approach to architecture but her commitment to encourages young students of her institute to question what it means to be an architect and re-evaluate the discipline of architecture.

There are innumerable women who are trying to make their mark in the field and as avenues of knowledge and skill open up for them they are eager to share their work with the rest of their peers and female community. The female perspective has incredible influenced the direction that architecture is taking today and the future vision of art and architecture is being re-invented with the inclusion of women in the profession today. This enable people to see that the role of women in architecture is a two-way street and can become mutually beneficiary with collective efforts.

 

In conclusion

The journey is long and the road is hard for women to make their mark in history as a patron architecture. Participation and diligent efforts from all members of society can help make the journey equitable and just. Identifying and acknowledging is just the first step in this. The potential of women to contribute in every field and especially architecture must not be limited with societal expectation and norms, but rather be pushed and tested against the work output of their male counterparts in terms of excellence, on an even playing field.