Comments on: Why are there so few women architects?

By: Kathryn Shackelford

Kathryn Shackelford — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:31:42 +0000

Hummm. I disagree. And so does my research | ArchDaily http://t.co/CUCDdxw via @archdaily

By: helen

helen — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 16:46:58 +0000

Mr. Stern is right, in many ways. He is talking about this fact, by the time you have climbed the ladder to principal-hood, or leader in a design firm, (late 30′s) is probably the time a female architect is also juggling global travel and a toddler or two. The stress level is tremendous.

By: ULGC

ULGC — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:18:07 +0000

And I’ll unfortunately add that in France
Female Architects = 20.25 % of registered architects
Black Architects = 0.4 % of registered architects (if not less)

By: Adey

Adey — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:51:34 +0000

That’s an inaccurate statement. I’m a female architect and have great spatial thinking and scored higher in structure exams then most of my male classmates.

Personally, if I quit architecture, it would be to pursue a career that pays better and requires less overtime. I have no interest in having children at this time, but do value a life outside of architecture.

I believe part of the reason that there are less female architects is that females are generally less competitive when it comes to masochism.

By: FM Group

FM Group — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:43:09 +0000

Thank you for great article. I had a very good time reading, and there were few things I was surprised by.

By: Abigail

Abigail — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:46:28 +0000

That is exactly what I was wondering. When I clicked on the subject “why are there so few women architects?” I expected a woman to be answering this question. How in the hell can a man answer this obviously inexplicable question? I, as a woman myself, am wondering the same. I am currently working on my B Arch and am preparing to enter the profession. I wonder where all the women are. Are they in the profession but just take a backseat to the competitive male dominance? Do they continue to make up the 50% who pursue architecture but then lead a different path? (and if so what makes them stray?) or is Leslie right in saying that all the old men have to die off before we see the females begin to find place? I certainly hope not. From what I have seen in my schooling thus far is that the women undertaking architectural studies are just as ambitious, passionate, mindful, and diligent as their male counterparts if not moreso. So why then do we not hear from and learn more about women in architecture? I agree that women entering the field need more women mentors. I think the male dominance in the professional field is probably discouraging especially since it is already a field that requires much figuring of self-place and I feel that women struggle more with the issue because they do not have women mentors. Somewhere along the line we women need to take charge of our positions and question ideals that are set forth as we make a place for ourselves in the professional field. Also, women who succeed in the profession are often referred to as a bitch. But I believe that it is the result of men recognizing a woman’s tenacity and simplifying them into a “bitch”. Women just have to fight harder, speak louder, and persist more because we are not taken seriously. We have to prove ourselves, and in the process women who become successful are deemed bitches. So, in answering what can be done to change the scarcity of women in the profession–this is to the men–graciously accept that women in the field have done exactly what you have to get to where you are. We are just as inventive, creative, and design-intelligent as you are. So if we have to push our ideas a little harder than you do because we have barriers to break, don’t assume we are a bitch. We are just like you, we love architecture, and we are just as dedicated to architecture as you are! babies or not.

By: John Hanna

John Hanna — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:33:14 +0000

RT @Joy_kh: Why are there so few women architects? | ArchDaily http://t.co/aAO31eP via @archdaily

By: Farah Khasawneh

Farah Khasawneh — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:32:38 +0000

Why are there so few women architects? | ArchDaily http://t.co/aAO31eP via @archdaily

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 17:00:28 +0000

I read this and thought – how sad.
I went through arch school in the late 80s – 50/50 entry but only 25% of the graduands were female. We endured a fair amount of sexual harassment/dicrimination – one retrospective slide show by a professor showing group activities had a number of shots of my bare legs. That was standard crap (and Stern sounds like a prof from that era). Some women dropped out during the time because they felt the atmosphere wasn’t worth it, or moved on to law school or other discplines that rewarded intelligence and planning over the culture of all-nighters.
Family must be on the minds of a fair number of men and women – but it didn’t seem to register with the women I have worked with. At some point one has to evaluate why one is working on a Saturday evening for one’s boss without the prospect of a promotion or bonus pay. Babies or not, the mindless masochism of devoting one’s weekends and evenings time to a shopping mall or second home at the expense of a social life can sometimes strike one as a bit of a time-waster.

Other discplines do tend to be more rewarding in terms of financial metrics, promotion opportunities and work-life balance. Don’t assume women aren’t in architecture because they are busy spitting out babies – a study tracking where they went after architecture may very well show these women went on to far more lucrative and rewarding careers, ones in which they become the client and hiring force for architects.

By: joe e smith

joe e smith — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 21:17:19 +0000

the reason:women are not as adept in math as men.they also lack spatial thinking.

By: Nina Boccia

Nina Boccia — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:55:10 +0000

Yale arch dean Robert Stern explains why there is smaller percentage of women in top architecture spots. http://bit.ly/d0EaVa

By: Emily

Emily — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 21:54:49 +0000

I am a 25 year old in grad school and I couldn’t agree with you more. I don’t know what the answer is, but there are clear discrepancies between men and women in this field especially that need to be resolved.

By: angelina yoanita

angelina yoanita — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:14:32 +0000

Watching: "Why are there so few women architects? | ArchDaily >> Eh para awewe, masih minat jadi ARSITEK? lol" (http://twitthis.com/b67svd)

By: jimmy

jimmy — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:44:23 +0000

women’s vision at shopping,vogue,fashion,style.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:51:13 +0000

Tania!! Gender roles are prescribed by a long history of war-making patriarchal societies, and genetic predispositions which became obsolete when homo sapiens achieved conciousness. Cognitive evolution!

By: TheTradingReport » Blog Archive » Saturday Morning Property Linkfest

TheTradingReport » Blog Archive » Saturday Morning Property Linkfest — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 14:27:46 +0000

[...] Fewer women architects: blame motherhood? [Arch Daily] [...]

By: Tania

Tania — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:22:52 +0000

I totally agree with what he said. Yes we are living in a time where we think the impossible is possible but we must face that it is not. As much as we women try to be independent and still be able to have a family like men do we fail. For you see the road to greatness is cold and lonely the other is warm and comfortable. Name me one GREAT architect that is a woman and is not married or has children. Men have families and the wifes takes care of what they neglect it’s been done since the dawn of time.

By: M.

M. — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:13:19 +0000

Change the words “architect” by “doctor”, “layer”, “engeneer”, anything, and the speach would still stand, and be perfectly valid…..if we were in 1960.

Cheers from pertedetemps.

By: Francisco

Francisco — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:43:42 +0000

Ok…let me see… This man, tells us what he thinks ok?…
I don’t agree, but neither disagree…’cause he have a point.

But… if this wans´t the answer, WHAT IS IT? WHY ARE THERE SO FEW WOMEN ARCHITECT??

please…

By: David Basulto [tricky]

David Basulto [tricky] — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:46:59 +0000

Opium,

He´s designing the George Bush Library… trust me he didn´t vote for any democrat at all :)