Diversity or the lack of it in the architectural profession

Abstract

Approximately 37 per cent of architectural students are women and the percentage is increasing. This increase is not reflected in the architectural profession; women represent only 13 per cent of the total and analysis reveals that women are leaving the profession after qualifying. The research reported here was undertaken in 2003 and investigated the reasons why women were leaving. Research methods included the appointment of an expert advisory group, an extensive literature review, a web-based questionnaire aimed at women architects and a series of interviews with women who had left architecture. No single reason emerged from the research to explain why women left but a multiplicity of factors, such as low pay, poor promotion prospects, discriminatory attitudes and sexist behaviour were found to influence departure. The problem has an international dimension as revealed through the web survey and from ongoing academic interest. There are serious implications for the future of the profession if, through its culture and practice, it loses skilled people after they have qualified. Finally a series of key strategic recommendations for the professional bodies as well as practitioners suggest ways of reducing this female brain drain. The aim is to increase diversity in the construction industry and improve the competitive edge of the architectural profession.Women in architecture, gender, discrimination, inclusion, equality, diversity, workplace practice and culture, equal opportunities,

Constructing Masculinity in the Building Trades: ‘Most Jobs in the Construction Industry Can Be Done by Women’

“…Work on women in construction (for example Dainty et al ., 2000, 2004; De Graft‐Johnson et al ., 2005; Fielden et al ., 2000; Gale and Davidson, 2006; Greed, 2000) has often focused on women in construction management or in professions such as architecture and engineering, rather than in manual work such as bricklaying, which makes up around 80 per cent 1 of construction employment (Clarke et al ., 2004, is a notable exception, which deals with women in the construction trades.) Also, much of this work has tended to focus either on women's experiences of working in construction or on laying out the reasons why (and the ways in which) women should be encouraged to work in the industry.…”

Environmentally Sustainable Construction: Knowledge and Learning in London Planning Departments

“…cit.) cites response rates of 7-44% and a scan of other recently published web-based surveys of professionals (the target group) found examples of response rates of 36% (Khan et al, 2005) and 45% (Parker & Skitmore, 2005), together with examples of freely solicited survey responses, where it was not possible to calculate a response rate (De Graft Johnson et al, 2005;Wheaton et al, 2006). The response rate of this survey, therefore, compares favourably.…”

Investigating the Role of Cultural Capital and Organisational Habitus in Architectural Education: A Case Study Approach

“…Charter High School of Architecture & Design in Philadelphia), but yet the numbers of women and minorities practising in the profession are still grim. Various explanations have been offered regarding the particular barriers to women and minorities in entering architecture, including lack of visibility, lack of support and lack of sensitivity to particular needs (DeGraft-Johnson et al 2005;McCann 2007). I am expanding on this previous research by focusing solely on the education of future architects, urging architectural educators and administrators to ask themselves 'What does the discipline of architecture have to offer to people of a diverse background?'…”