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There has been much discussion raised about "Why are women leaving Architecture? and more broadly, Why is the profession losing key talent?"  Both women and men practitioners are disillusioned by the myth of work/life balance: Women are grappling with "have it all" expectations of juggling family time with the demands of full-time work.  Men are struggling to support their families solely on an architect's salary and fall back on asking spouses to maintain their jobs. The lack of affordable childcare and high cost of living only magnifies the challenges.  How did we end up in this modern family dilemma? What can we do to improve the situation?

Architectress in Construction: Equity Then and Now

Earlier this month, the architecture community lost a significant person, Judith Edelman. She was significant not only because of the quality of her work, but also in her bold efforts fighting for equity in the AIA (American Institute of Architects) and in the profession of architecture. In 1974, Judith Edelman faced the American Institute of Architects with data showing that only 1.2% of registered architects were women. She wanted to show data that proved women were not “paranoid chicks” for thinking there was a serious issue within the AIA.  She raised awareness about the gender disparity within the AIA and also founded the Alliance of Women in Architecture.

As a student at Connecticut College and New York University, she advocated for the introduction of more modernist architecture in the academic curriculum while, ironically, her professors often stated that they were wasting their time on teaching the girls that were in the architecture program. After finishing her education, her struggle to find a job only proved that inequity was her continued reality. She was hired by Huson Jackson to draw and design brickwork for mental health hospitals. “He was a great thinker, but he couldn’t draw, interestingly enough,” she stated in an interview. After some travels abroad, she and her husband started their own firm and designed housing for the needy, health clinics, and other various buildings in New York. Ms. Edelman's work was admired and received many awards.

Growth & Development Session. Photo credit: Daniel Wang

Growth & Development Session. Photo credit: Daniel Wang

Judith was an early ambassador for Equity in Design by shedding light on the issue of inequity within the profession. Her life story helped me realize that to change something, you must be a part of it. Attending the Missing 32% Symposium was when I felt I truly understood this concept. Even though we all acknowledged that there was still a long way to go, the fact that I saw, heard and met women (and men) of all levels, really committed to the movement, was not only crucial for me, but solidified the fact that this is extremely important. It was evident that everyone had really given the topics serious thought and had begun to think of creative solutions. It brought peace of mind to know that I wasn’t alone in my issues with the profession, but that there were really influential people all around me to prove what was on my mind was really important. Settling was no longer an option.

Here we are - the active participants of The Missing 32% Project! There are many parallel issues that continue to exist and I believe that it is important that we pull the techniques from the generations of women that began this journey before us, and translate them to what is concurrent today. Judith’s battle is our battle. The new generation of female architects should be proud to be women, as they are proud to be designers.

It takes a lot of courage to begin a movement. I appreciated the research conducted and the data that reveals that there are continuous issues throughout the length of the individual’s career; which means the participation from everyone at all levels is critical. It is also vital that efforts continue throughout the various pinch-points, and not just when we are experiencing them.  It helps narrow the focus, while still being able to acknowledge the parts that make up the bigger issue. On a personal note, attending the Symposium was a very important first step. If you cannot identify what the challenge is, you will not be able to create a solution. I am committed to focus on: gaining more confidence, identifying what I want to do, communication, identifying a champion (especially as I am at the beginning of my career), and practicing presenting my ideas.

I am now aware of how big inequity has been and still is. Without the initial wave from Judith, and the follow-through of The Missing 32% Project, I would very much debate staying in the profession of architecture (which I have wanted to do for 12 years) because quality of life is more important than a job title. However, it is very possible to have both. It’s a creative profession, and that should encourage us to be creative in how we fit in the big world of architecture.

Post by: Danelle Gillingham

If not me, Who? If not now, When? Equity is Everyone's Issue.

“In my nervousness for this speech and my moments of doubt, I’ve told myself firmly, ‘If not me, who? If not now, when?’ If you have similar doubts when opportunities are presented to you, I hope that those words will be helpful because the reality is, if we do nothing, it will take 75 years or for me, to be nearly 100, before women can expect to be paid the same as men for the same work”
— Emma Watson - He for She

 

A few weeks ago, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador and actor Emma Watson gave the Pantheon of all speeches for equality and inclusion for a special event launching the HeForShe campaign at the UN Headquarters in New York. If you have not seen the video or read the transcript, I highly recommend that you do. The most poignant 8 words of her monologue that resonated the most : If not me, who? If not now, when?

As we approach Equity by Design on October 18th next week, I vividly remember being confronted with the same question over a year ago after the 2nd Missing 32% Symposium; What would I do to change inequity in professional practice? From talking to other women in architecture, there was much in the way of anecdotal evidence of similar challenges in their careers. However, statistics and surveys around this topic were lacking in substantive data; Data that could be the calling card to initiate a difficult but necessary conversation about Equity in professional practice. The very existence of The Missing 32% Project was dependent on the my decision to "act" and subsequently the people who have joined and supported our work. In this last year, it has caused a chain reaction of "actions" which resulted in a collective Movement for Equity beyond our wildest imagination.  

The issues surrounding Equity in Architecture are not necessarily black and white, openly discriminatory, or right vs. wrong. They are more complex and nuanced in implicit biases and stigmas; a working culture embedded with gender and cultural ideologies going beyond architecture and a profession wrought with challenges trying to keep up with a rapidly advancing world. While systemic changes may seem daunting and impossible in our career lifetime, I believe that individuals choosing to engage in the conversation and taking action (grass roots) is just as vital and necessary as institutional/corporate change. 

Presenting The Missing 32% Project origins and goals at the Industry Leader's Roundtable

Presenting The Missing 32% Project origins and goals at the Industry Leader's Roundtable

This past week, I presented at the 5th Annual Industry Leader's Roundtable hosted by the Beverly Willis Architectural Foundation at the IBM Learning Center in Armonk, NY.  This year's program discussed Centered Leadership as a foundation for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity.  Fiona Cousins, Principal of ARUP and BWAF Trustee presented "Diversity and Inclusion Knowledge Cards" an initiative started by Erin McConahey, Principal of Arup in partnership with the Society of Women Engineers. The knowledge cards feature provocative questions, summaries of current research, and intriguing data points to start conversations in the workplace and beyond. Arup and SWE have made these cards available for purchase or knowledge card activities readily available on their website. The biggest takeaway from our discussions was a salient point made by our McKinsey facilitator; In order to make change happen, the accountability of putting a plan into "action" needed to occur within 48 hours of the initial commitment.  

On October 18th for Equity by Design: Knowledge, Discussion, Action!  While we will be sharing the much awaited results of the survey, we will also be asking attendees and supporters to commit with us to make change happen. Whether it is at the individual level for your own professional development, the firm level for mentoring, sponsorship or starting the Equity discussion in your office. Or will you commit to act at the professional level of outreach for practice as an ambassador for Architects to the community? We are at an important point in this nascent movement for Equity in Architecture. Beyond the rhetoric, we want action and accountability. We have the ability to make it happen. Will you join us?

Written by Rosa T. Sheng, AIA, LEED AP BD+C