Overcoming barriers to women in architecture

The best architecture firms take an inclusive strategy, allowing you to bring your whole self to work. For a curated selection of ethical employers, check out VERCIDA's jobs database.

In a 2018 article, Building magazine asked leading women in architecture what could help recruit more women to the field. The women suggested that good parental leave, and flexibility when new parents return to work, would help break down barriers. New parents can benefit from access to remote working technologies. While these flexibilities can benefit any employee, they overcome a barrier that has particularly affected women.

The women architects who were interviewed also agreed on the importance of showcasing architecture as a career to other women. Women architects need to be promoted in the public eye, and the contributions of women in the field deserve recognition. Women role models, and women mentors, are crucial. Find a company with great strategies for inclusion in the VERCIDA directory.

Several women made the point that proper remuneration makes it easier for anyone to raise a family. Good pay makes it easier to arrange safe, quality childcare. If someone talented has caring responsibilities, having this need met is a core part of what they want in a job.

Another idea was to look at the way colleagues and clients perceive women. Unconscious bias occurs everywhere in society, and women are often perceived differently from men when they speak up in meetings. This is just one example. Unconscious bias, left unchecked, can permeate the workplace and present barriers to women advancing at work. Inclusive workplaces often address barriers by offering training on unconscious bias to managers. Other systemic changes like blind promotion, reverse mentoring or transparent career mapping make an inclusive culture part of the orgainsation. If you're ready to embark on an inclusive career in architecture, VERCIDA's jobs database is a great place to start.