Feminism or just Equality.
I get infuriated with the lack of equality for women in the workplace, especially Architecture. Having worked in a firm which has 2 women( and one woman receptionist) with 5 other men, there is a stronger male influence in the office although they are not sexist..most of the time. What has spurred this rant is a comment from someone regarding the future of a part 1 student who is going on to complete her masters after a year in practice. She has said she might not necessarily be an Architect but is continuing with her studies for now. The man starts off positive, saying how she has it in her to become an Architect and how she has the willpower and interest to do so. However, what followed completely lost any respect I had for him. He said how it would be hard to ''juggle kids and a career in Architecture in the future'.. do we all want to have five children by the age of 25?NO, Is there such thing as men who look after their children too?YES
It astounds me that to this day, men are still so sure that women won't be able to handle a career as they are going to have children.
Okay so to become a fully qualified Architecture, you're looking at around 27-30 if you go to university at 18. Are they serious that every woman wants kids before then? or even if she does that she will take 5-10 years off work? There is such thing as nursery and working around your children which can still happen. Are they trying to say that every woman wants children? It is such a blunt view which I find completely stupid and it is a judgement rather than a fact.
Firms are less likely to hire women as they think as soon as they join, they are going to get pregnant and want maternity leave. Personally, not that I am even thinking of having children yet, but would want to kick start my career and make sure I am financially stable before having kids. Also I would hope that I won't be a homemaker and that I actually match my husbands salary and provide for my family just as much as him. Is that aspiration really too much for modern day society? Granted, we don't always have shining examples of woman Architects but things can only get better right? The likes of Angela Brady over Francine Houben and I have high hopes for the new RIBA President Jane Duncan who can hopefully spur on budding female Architects to make a stand and actually fight for their equality. But I guess we'll see,
