Dr. Garry's Key Centre for Architectural Sociology: Women in Architecture
Dr. Garry Stevens has degrees in architecture, sociology and information technology. Dr. Garry does not practice architecture, but rather studies the sociology of architecture. Garry has written a few books on his research and many of his essays and theories are on his website: Dr. Garry’s Key Centre for Architectural Sociology. The website delivers Dr. Garry’s research and analysis in a very light-hearted manner. The website is not funded or sponsored by any academic or government program to avoid biased information. There is a disclaimer in the article stating that the theories are not meant to discourage women from pursuing a career in architecture. Dr. Garry believes that many famous architects do not reach their peak until they are into their sixties which is typically when female professionals retire. He also states that many women do not enter the field because of the high amounts of sexual harassment during school due to the “unusual intimate nature” of studios. He states that well-known female architects can be counted on one hand and that some well known women are a part of a wife-husband partnership.
Where are the Women Architects?: Great Names and Forgotten Women in Architecture and Design
Jackie Craven is an About.com Guide as well as writes for other publications such as House and Garden Magazine and published two books of her own, The Healthy Home and The Stress-Free Home. Craven has a doctor of arts degree in writing but typically writes about architecture, home design, historic preservation and contemporary trends because of her fascination and interest in houses. Craven has done much research on the relation between women and architecture and in this particular entry she states different qualitative and quantitative information on the subject. She first states that women have often and do often contribute to the design of homes and other major buildings but are rarely recorded as doing so. She found that many country homes were designed by women that understand the necessities of a functioning home. Craven then describes ten great female architects and describes their success. She also created a photo tour and entry about whether buildings have gender or not. The gender of buildings might show that a building is more “masculine” which is described as being solid, powerful, stronger, angular, and forcefully tall such as skyscrapers. A “feminine” structure is described as being curved, rounded or organic. Some buildings shown are believed to be a mixture of the two or of having no gender at all and does not arouse any senses.
Robert A.M. Stern on Women in Architecture
Big Think is an online information database which collects and presents data from a multitutde of different ideas and thoughts of many professionals as well as quantitative information on subjects. This particular topic is an interview question which is presented as a video of Robert A.M. Stern who is the Dean of Yale School of Architecture. Stern is asked the question: “Why are there so few women architects?” Stern struggles to answer the question, stating that it is a complicated topic. He states that in most schools such as at Yale the ratio of men to women is nearly fifty-fifty, which was very different in his time at architecture school. However, Stern believes women have progressed and have begun pursuing the career. Stern states that the biggest problem is that many women become mothers and unlike some professions in which a woman can raise her children and still have a career, architecture is unusually time consuming and would not allow for equal amounts of time. Stern ends in stating that even though the ratio is very unequal, it is not because either men or women are better designs but that there is actually “no difference between men and women.”
Architecture is Tough! Will Architecture Barbie Help Women Become Designers?
Alissa Walker is a writer and editor of GOOD and has writings in The Architect’s Newspaper, LA Weekly, Wired and other publications. She has won various writing awards and recognitions. Walker has a degree in advertising but found that she preferred writing, particularly about design. Walker explains how Architect Barbie came to be and how many architects and writers alike have criticized Mattel’s representation of a female architect. Walker is personally less concerned about how Mattel got her appearance incorrect and more concerned about how the production of this Barbie might affect how women enter the design field. She goes on to describe how women’s architecture organizations have been fighting for Barbie to pursue a career in architecture for a very long time in hopes that young girls might be able to realize their goals of becoming a female designer. Walker admits at the end of the article that she wishes that Architect Barbie had been around when she was a child because she might not have become a writer.
I'll be honest. I will probably be purchasing the doll here fairly soon or put it on my Christmas list. I'm sure my family would love see a Barbie on there again...
I'll be honest. I will probably be purchasing the doll here fairly soon or put it on my Christmas list. I'm sure my family would love see a Barbie on there again...
