Sexism is very much alive, kicking and breathing fire in architecture industry, claims a survey conducted by Architects' Journal. The study claims that the industry is brimming with discrimination against women not only in pay but also in terms of accepting authority, encouragement and success.
The annual Women in Architecture survey, which polled about 710 female architects, found that about 66 percent of them had suffered 'sexual discrimination'. About 31 percent reported experiencing it on a monthly or quarterly basis while 21 percent of them said that they were bullied at their workplace.
Additionally, 88 percent of the women felt that having kids was a huge disadvantage when working in the architecture industry and 62 percent thought that the segment had troubles accepting women in roles of authority.
On the monetary front, about 60 percent of the women in the field earned around $58,816 (£36000) less than what men earned.
But that is just one side of the coin. Apparently, about 108 males of the 216 surveyed, agreed to the fact that women faced a lot of gender related biases in the field.
The results of the survey reflect the sad condition of the sector.
"These survey results are symptomatic of an industry that is stuck in the past, occasionally inching tentatively into the present, and nowhere near prepared for the future world, where integration is everything," Sally Lewis, director of Stitch, a London-based architectural studio said, commenting on the survey.
However, the rate at which the inequality is climbing is speeding too. This year's rates are about 58 percent higher than the figures recorded in 2011, when the survey was first launched.
What Needs to Change
Experts believe that not only should measures be taken but mindsets must also change.
"What we need are more role models and more employers who are prepared to empower their women architects through in-house guidance and promotion to develop the confidence needed by any architect for their job," Jane Duncan, the Royal Institute of British Architects's equality and diversity champion, said in the survey.
"When most people think of architecture, they think of an old man behind a desk and that needs to change," Christine Murray, editor of the Architect's Journal said in an interview with The Telegraph.
Zaha Hadid - The Face of Architectural Feminism
Famous startchitect, Zaha Hadid became the face of feminism in architecture after she spoke openly about the sexism in the industry. In Feb, 2013 she gave a candid interview to The Guardian, where she revealed the difficulties she faced working in the sector, not because it was tough, but because she was a woman.
"It is easier for me in European countries than it is here [in London]. There is a different dynamic. In the UK it is more difficult. They are very conservative. There is a skepticism and more misogynist behaviour here. Although, while there were people against me, there were also people living here who were incredibly supportive."
More recently she took some good bashing on her design of the upcoming "Al-Wakrah Stadium" in Qatar, after several media outlets described it as the 'female genitalia'.
Deteriorating Sex Ratio in Industry
Hadid is probably the only famous architect among the slew of male starchitects. She is the North Star in the architectural sky.
But, if the discrimination doesn't cease, more women are going to ditch the industry. Currently, about 44 percent of the students studying architecture are female and only about 12 percent ladies hold high positions at firms, according to a RIBA study.
"Architects are truly unique professionals, the most strategic and creative members of an adapting construction industry - the lingering issue of inequality in our profession must not hold us back. We must not just cling on to the back of the bus, but drive a change in the direction of travel," Jane Duncan wrote for The Guardian.
