Ask Audrey: Women in Architecture Q&A

What does it mean to be a female in architecture?

What a question! For me, a female in architecture is a paradox. It's a title that I routinely forget about having because I don't equate my competency to my gender. At the same time, it's a badge that I fight to have, in every interaction, am proud to wear, and will never, ever forget.

What it boils down to for me, is that being a female architect is more about how others perceive me. It's less about how I perceive myself. I am always reminded of this scrutiny while in the field, in the office, or interacting with a client. My interactions might be interpreted in a certain way because I am a woman - good, bad or otherwise.

What has your experience working in the industry been like so far? Why do you think there are less women than men?

In many of my jobs, prior to starting my own firm, I was made to feel “small” in some way or another - physical, verbal, or emotional. Dealing with uncomfortable (or worse yet, compromising) situations is also difficult. That’s no way for anyone to work or succeed in their craft. All the subtle & overt comments become exhausting. 

I’ve had plenty of women bosses, supervisors, and mentors- and my experience has varied widely. I had one boss that was merely playing the part of Woman Architect, she claimed to support women in architecture and then routinely made decisions that would suggest otherwise. I had another supervisor that had a much more democratic approach and did offer sincere support. However, she offered it to anyone, and I quickly realized that if I were to have kids while there, I would get passed up by my male peers. Another firm loudly claimed to support women. My female mentor there was the best in our office. While hiring a new grad, he was offered the same salary as her. They apologized and adjusted the salaries of those involved, but knowing what a discrepancy there was made me deeply doubt that they would ever truly value a woman in the same position.

For all of those reasons, I can see why women don’t pursue careers in our field after school. And as a white woman with financial security, I can easily see why minorities also have abysmal representation. It's no shock that women minorities are unicorns in architecture and construction.

The ratio of women in your firm is higher than average in firms across the building industry, has this affected studio culture or project work in any significant way?

While I did not set out to have a firm that is 75% women, I have no problem with it. As a team, we understand that flexibility is a part of everyone’s work. It doesn’t mean that professionalism is gone, it's actually quite the opposite. It makes Studio Maven a welcoming place where anyone can ask questions and grow. Our emphasis is on a safe, healthy work culture where everyone contributes.

Plus, there are also men who pursue a flexible work environment! They are often the ones striving to have a more equal relationship with their partner. This work flexibility grants them the ability to share duties of the home and parenting.

Currently, there are 502 licensed women architects in the US, are you licensed or on the path to getting licensed?

I am a Licensed Architect. It took me over 5,000 internship hours, 7 national exams, and 1 state exam. The exams each last about 4 hours (2 of which I had to retake after failing my first attempts). Each one had to be scheduled on a weekday, which meant taking time off work. Plus, the exams cost $250 each, pass or fail.

It’s been written about before, but the sheer hours and financial investment required for licensure is astounding. This process is time consuming and costly. It creates additional hardship for the graduate with student loans, the working Mother, or professionals who cannot miss work or afford to pay for the exams.

I’m lucky. I had the financial reserves to cover the cost of my exams. I was also able to find jobs that I could take a day off from, but not everyone has that luxury. Addressing those disparities around licensing will close the noticeable gap in this industry.

What are your thoughts on the efforts to increase the number of women in the industry?

I get frustrated at the question of “why aren’t there more women in the field.” The question we should ask is “why aren’t there more underrepresented populations staying in our field?” but that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue in the same way… The answer is very clear. We don’t set women, minorities, or underrepresented populations up for success. The system itself is sabotaging us.

Time and again, I hear podcasts or read articles from women who left the field of architecture, and are now heralded for their work in another field. They wax poetic about their love of architecture and the skills from their training that they now use elsewhere. What a testament to their talents! Their own industry has failed them, and thus, we all suffer.

What are some tips or advice you have for young women interested in a career in architecture?

So much progress has been made in our field, and while I am frustrated by many of the experiences I’ve had, I’m so grateful to those women who have gone before me. I hope that my approach will make it easier for another woman, and I think there are more women like me. I am hopeful. If you love architecture- go for it. Just remember that the bias of others doesn’t determine what you’re capable of doing.