To the Editor:
Re “Where Are All the Female Architects?,” by Allison Arieff (Sunday Review, Dec. 16):
I’m a 38-year-old architect with children. I own a thriving firm, and I attended the Yale School of Architecture as a single mom with a toddler. I’ve experienced a wide sampling of icky moments — from “helpful” hands climbing up ladders to needing to prove myself on construction sites in a way that my male colleagues don’t — but I believe that what drives women away is straightforward.
In architecture firms, long hours are valued above all else. Take-home pay minus child care is close to zero.
These problems originate in a culture of hazing and disrespect at architecture schools, where adequate sleep is mocked, and public humiliation during presentations is the norm (often ending in tears).
This culture creates a broken profession unable to advocate for decent wages or working conditions, and it seeps into the work force.
It’s time for architecture schools to value results over macho hazing. This culture is bad for everyone, particularly women, and it starts in school. That’s where the solution should start, too.
Carmel Greer
Washington
To the Editor:
We’re here! We’re just not as visible.
We haven’t left architecture; we’ve evolved beyond architecture. Many of us have explored opportunities outside traditional architecture and have found the realm of construction management to be far more challenging and receptive to our leadership skills with increased reward and opportunity.
As construction managers, we lead the planning, design and construction of megaprojects on behalf of our owner clientele. We’re happy to have the owners take all the credit for a successful project while we stay in the background, ensuring that the project is completed on time and on budget.
We may not be filling as many “starchitect” roles with far more sex appeal, but we’re certainly leading the charge behind the scenes.
Lisa C. Sachs
Santa Paula, Calif.
The writer is managing principal of the Cumming Corporation.
Source: Read Full Article
Home » Analysis & Comment » Opinion | Women in Architecture: We Have Stories to Tell
Opinion | Women in Architecture: We Have Stories to Tell
To the Editor:
Re “Where Are All the Female Architects?,” by Allison Arieff (Sunday Review, Dec. 16):
I’m a 38-year-old architect with children. I own a thriving firm, and I attended the Yale School of Architecture as a single mom with a toddler. I’ve experienced a wide sampling of icky moments — from “helpful” hands climbing up ladders to needing to prove myself on construction sites in a way that my male colleagues don’t — but I believe that what drives women away is straightforward.
In architecture firms, long hours are valued above all else. Take-home pay minus child care is close to zero.
These problems originate in a culture of hazing and disrespect at architecture schools, where adequate sleep is mocked, and public humiliation during presentations is the norm (often ending in tears).
This culture creates a broken profession unable to advocate for decent wages or working conditions, and it seeps into the work force.
It’s time for architecture schools to value results over macho hazing. This culture is bad for everyone, particularly women, and it starts in school. That’s where the solution should start, too.
Carmel Greer
Washington
To the Editor:
We’re here! We’re just not as visible.
We haven’t left architecture; we’ve evolved beyond architecture. Many of us have explored opportunities outside traditional architecture and have found the realm of construction management to be far more challenging and receptive to our leadership skills with increased reward and opportunity.
As construction managers, we lead the planning, design and construction of megaprojects on behalf of our owner clientele. We’re happy to have the owners take all the credit for a successful project while we stay in the background, ensuring that the project is completed on time and on budget.
We may not be filling as many “starchitect” roles with far more sex appeal, but we’re certainly leading the charge behind the scenes.
Lisa C. Sachs
Santa Paula, Calif.
The writer is managing principal of the Cumming Corporation.
Source: Read Full Article