A shocking new report from the Royal Institute of British Architects has exposed how "stark displays of sexism" are systematically driving women from the architecture profession, stalling their careers and deterring new talent from entering the field.
The Scale of the Problem
The comprehensive study, overseen by Dr Valerie Vaughan-Dick - the first female CEO in RIBA's nearly 200-year history - documents alarming issues including sexual harassment, unequal pay, and pervasive power imbalances. The findings make for "uncomfortable reading" according to Vaughan-Dick, particularly since they come two decades after a similar 2003 review highlighted an exodus of women from architecture.
Despite more women studying architecture at university level, just 31% of registered architects and under a quarter of RIBA chartered members are female. The retention crisis now overshadows recruitment problems, with a 2017 Dezeen survey revealing only 10% of senior positions in the world's 100 largest architecture firms were held by women.
Overlooked Brilliance: Women Who Shaped Architecture
The report's publication prompts reflection on the extraordinary contributions women have made to architecture despite systemic barriers. From Lina Bo Bardi's Italian-style modernism with Brazilian accents in São Paulo to Jane and Mary Parminter's eccentric 16-sided home A la Ronde in Devon, female architects have created some of the world's most innovative spaces.
Contemporary pioneers include Kazuyo Sejima, whose reflective buildings mirror their natural surroundings, and Liz Diller, creator of New York's wildly popular High Line park. Niger-born architect Mariam Issoufou works with sustainable local materials to produce handsome libraries and housing estates, while the late Zaha Hadid remains one of the most celebrated architects of the past thirty years.
Systemic Barriers and Masculine Culture
Architecture has long been considered one of the most misogynistic professional fields, whether due to stereotypes about mathematics being "for boys" or assumptions that women are better suited to soft furnishings. This prejudice manifests in daily practice through ill-fitting personal protective equipment, exclusionary cliques, and emails addressed to "gentleman".
As Zaha Hadid once famously noted: "I am not part of this boys' network... there are places men can go and women can't, like those gentlemen's clubs, or guys asking each other to play golf."
The problem extends beyond professional networks to the very design of buildings. For decades, structures have been created by and for men, from Le Corbusier's "Modulor Man" based on a "6ft British policeman" to phallic skyscrapers dominating city skylines. Mainstream cultural depictions of architects further reinforce hyper-masculine stereotypes, from Ayn Rand's egotistical Howard Roark to contemporary portrayals of brooding male geniuses.
Why Gender Diversity Matters in Building Design
Increasing female representation in architecture isn't just about equity - it fundamentally changes how buildings and urban environments function. In the 1980s, the London-based activist collective Matrix successfully campaigned for cityscapes more attuned to women's lived experiences, addressing issues like navigating with prams or feeling unsafe in unlit underpasses.
Research also shows that companies with greater gender diversity on boards tend to generate higher profits. Within architecture specifically, industry roundtables suggest women bring strengths in collaborative working, inclusive design approaches, and more effective client communication.
Despite these benefits, women's contributions continue to be overlooked. Few know that Norman Foster and Richard Rogers began their careers in a firm co-established with three women, including Georgie Wolton - the only licensed architect who enabled the practice to operate. Similarly, Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie School style relied heavily on his first employee Marion Mahony Griffin, while Denise Scott Brown was denied retroactive recognition for the Pritzker Prize awarded solely to her husband.
The gradual culture shift within architecture that fosters teamwork, better client dialogue and inclusive design considerations demonstrates why more women following in the footsteps of trailblazers like Norma Merrick Sklarek remains crucial. As other industries advance gender equality through flexible working and mentorship programmes, architecture must urgently build on these foundations or risk losing half its creative potential.
