Are women architecture students are given the same opportunities in the industry as male students? How difficult is it for women students to get a foothold in the industry?
Maybe historically, but most of my classes now have more women than men in them.
Not sure what corporate practice is like but last time I was there, women were outshining and out-performing, if not out-earning men at all levels up to Director. Still a gap at principal level, probably generational.
In starchitect world there is almost perfect parity.
Honestly? We cannot rely on anecdotes, or personal experiences, we need to look at the numbers, and not just snapshots that professional organizations rely upon to tell us, all is well. It's not. It's it getting better? Perhaps.
Sep 22, 21 10:37 am ·
·
archanonymous
natematt quotes some numbers below from NCARB and the AIA... seems like we are absolutely getting better, if not fully there yet. I'm assuming if OP wanted data they would have just looked it up, but you come to a forum for opinions and discussion, which necessarily rely on personal anecdotes.
Sep 22, 21 11:18 am ·
·
archanonymous
Not to minimize the issues that women still face, especially when they have more melanin.
I can't seem to find good breakdowns by firm type or sector on hard data. Will say that I've anecdotally observed that in my market more "old-school" firms doing less progressive work and more private res work tend to have whiter, older, and more male staff.
'getting a foothold in the profession / starting out' is a different question to consider in this time versus 'the numbers' across the discipline at all levels. of course it was more difficult for women in pre-millenial generations, which you see reflected in some current firm leadership statistics. and there will always be more statistical imbalance in that regard because of having children, etc, and the challenges or choices women have to make with keeping career momentum.
so, my feeling is that there is currently (thankfully) good parity starting out but it will always be an uphill battle for equity in terms of broad statistics at the upper levels of management and leadership.
I do feel there is a gap I am a student myself and I have experienced it several times. I did my bachelor's in another country so I agree that location does help. but I still know it’s not easy for female students. I have seen some male students get more than what they are talented for, and while that, comparing is not that solution. I actively follow and keep myself to date with advocacy platforms for women architects yet nowhere do they talk about students. I feel the gap is largely hidden at the bottom than at the top. I have seen so many of my female colleagues leave architecture after graduating..why? Because either they don’t get the job in fields for which they advocated. They end up “compromising” and doing a 9-5 job and eventually leave and while starting out a business is out of the question for a few. While this is not the case for all, there are still some women going through this. I feel this should be done in academics. I don’t remember having these conversations in my uni or being prepared for the real outer world. I still felt largely unprepared for these issues while stepping out. I agree these conversations are much more alive now, but is it really helping? maybe a little.
Depends on your location. I work in an all female office. The head of our national architects union is a young woman who is running her own practice, chosen by a overwhelming majority of votes by its members. the editor in chief of the most important architecture magazine here is a woman. directors/cofounders of some of the biggest offices here are women, building all over the world...and the majority of students are women, most women i graduated with are working at starchitects or have their own offices. So yeah, as real estate agents say, location location, location! I can imagine though that it is difficult for women living in religiously backwards societies like Afghanistan, the Middle East in general or the United States to be considered as equal and be given equal opportunities, stay strong!
There are a lot of variables. But if you want general information...
Per NCARBs and AIA numbers (in the US) Almost 50% of people graduating architecture school are women. Almost 50% of new AXP applicants are women Around 40% of new architects are women. And Around 30% of firm leadership is women.
Perfect, no, but it seems like it's moving in the right direction considering where these numbers were even 10 years ago. While there are some gaps there, it seems like the issue about leadership should only be expected to resolve itself with a bit more time. The upstream improvements in recent years need time to take effect. That said, I'm not an expert on this data, and it seems like the history would suggest that there is still a lopsided attrition as people move up in experience which hopefully improves as well. However, I think this really fails to cover the more specific issues of how gender impacts career opportunities though...
A summation of my personal observation is that there are plenty of places, cities, and firms that would be as happy to hire a woman as a man.... But also there are still plenty of people (men... mostly...) in architecture and the broader design/construction industry who have covert or sometimes overt issues with women doing the job, and it will impact your professional experience.
I'm not seeing any issues that a women may be facing that men aren't as well. Not saying that there aren't, just that in my small sphere, not seeing it.
Opportunities for female architects
Are women architecture students are given the same opportunities in the industry as male students? How difficult is it for women students to get a foothold in the industry?
No. Very.
as a young professional and teacher i am not seeing this
Maybe historically, but most of my classes now have more women than men in them.
Not sure what corporate practice is like but last time I was there, women were outshining and out-performing, if not out-earning men at all levels up to Director. Still a gap at principal level, probably generational.
In starchitect world there is almost perfect parity.
Honestly? We cannot rely on anecdotes, or personal experiences, we need to look at the numbers, and not just snapshots that professional organizations rely upon to tell us, all is well. It's not. It's it getting better? Perhaps.
natematt quotes some numbers below from NCARB and the AIA... seems like we are absolutely getting better, if not fully there yet. I'm assuming if OP wanted data they would have just looked it up, but you come to a forum for opinions and discussion, which necessarily rely on personal anecdotes.
Not to minimize the issues that women still face, especially when they have more melanin.
I can't seem to find good breakdowns by firm type or sector on hard data. Will say that I've anecdotally observed that in my market more "old-school" firms doing less progressive work and more private res work tend to have whiter, older, and more male staff.
Oh, I agree, "mindthegap" is trying to flesh out conversation, I just want them to take a position, and let's have at it.
'getting a foothold in the profession / starting out' is a different question to consider in this time versus 'the numbers' across the discipline at all levels. of course it was more difficult for women in pre-millenial generations, which you see reflected in some current firm leadership statistics. and there will always be more statistical imbalance in that regard because of having children, etc, and the challenges or choices women have to make with keeping career momentum. so, my feeling is that there is currently (thankfully) good parity starting out but it will always be an uphill battle for equity in terms of broad statistics at the upper levels of management and leadership.
I do feel there is a gap I am a student myself and I have experienced it several times. I did my bachelor's in another country so I agree that location does help. but I still know it’s not easy for female students. I have seen some male students get more than what they are talented for, and while that, comparing is not that solution. I actively follow and keep myself to date with advocacy platforms for women architects yet nowhere do they talk about students. I feel the gap is largely hidden at the bottom than at the top. I have seen so many of my female colleagues leave architecture after graduating..why? Because either they don’t get the job in fields for which they advocated. They end up “compromising” and doing a 9-5 job and eventually leave and while starting out a business is out of the question for a few. While this is not the case for all, there are still some women going through this. I feel this should be done in academics. I don’t remember having these conversations in my uni or being prepared for the real outer world. I still felt largely unprepared for these issues while stepping out. I agree these conversations are much more alive now, but is it really helping? maybe a little.
Depends on your location. I work in an all female office. The head of our national architects union is a young woman who is running her own practice, chosen by a overwhelming majority of votes by its members. the editor in chief of the most important architecture magazine here is a woman. directors/cofounders of some of the biggest offices here are women, building all over the world...and the majority of students are women, most women i graduated with are working at starchitects or have their own offices. So yeah, as real estate agents say, location location, location! I can imagine though that it is difficult for women living in religiously backwards societies like Afghanistan, the Middle East in general or the United States to be considered as equal and be given equal opportunities, stay strong!
There are a lot of variables. But if you want general information...
Per NCARBs and AIA numbers (in the US)
Almost 50% of people graduating architecture school are women.
Almost 50% of new AXP applicants are women
Around 40% of new architects are women.
And Around 30% of firm leadership is women.
Perfect, no, but it seems like it's moving in the right direction considering where these numbers were even 10 years ago. While there are some gaps there, it seems like the issue about leadership should only be expected to resolve itself with a bit more time. The upstream improvements in recent years need time to take effect. That said, I'm not an expert on this data, and it seems like the history would suggest that there is still a lopsided attrition as people move up in experience which hopefully improves as well. However, I think this really fails to cover the more specific issues of how gender impacts career opportunities though...
A summation of my personal observation is that there are plenty of places, cities, and firms that would be as happy to hire a woman as a man.... But also there are still plenty of people (men... mostly...) in architecture and the broader design/construction industry who have covert or sometimes overt issues with women doing the job, and it will impact your professional experience.
I'm not seeing any issues that a women may be facing that men aren't as well. Not saying that there aren't, just that in my small sphere, not seeing it.
I have only had minor issues with a select few male contractors, and I live in the Texas of Canada.
Lol @ "Texas of Canada!" Is that like Nelson, BC?
Close, just one province over in Northern Alberta
Any issues with female contractors?
Nope no issues with the one female general contractor I have worked
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