For a woman to make a mark in a male-dominated field like architecture, she must have genuine passion for the profession, persistence, and resilience to take on challenges.
Architecture is a field that has traditionally been dominated by men, but there is a positive trend towards an increasing number of licensed female architects. In India, the current ratio stands at 70% male and 30% female. Achieving gender equality in this profession remains a significant challenge.
One of the challenges that female architects face is travel safety concerns, particularly when working odd hours. Balancing work and life, while also raising a family, can be demanding, and challenging. Additionally, retaining talented staff can be an issue.
Nevertheless, there has been a paradigm shift, with parents increasingly willing to send their daughters to study architecture, and women becoming more ambitious and resilient in all fields. Technological advancements and automation have also revolutionized architecture. Today, architects can work from anywhere in the world with the aid of computational design and apps. Computer-aided design has significantly transformed the way architects work, enabling them to sketch, measure, and draft layouts of their designs, while also obtaining realistic visualizations of their buildings.
For women who aspire to pursue a career in architecture, my advice would be to have a genuine passion for the profession, as it requires a lot of hard work, persistence, and resilience to succeed. In a male-dominated field, women often face resistance and must remain motivated to overcome the obstacles they face.
Self-worth and grit are essential qualities that come in handy when handling clients and working with teams. It’s crucial to remember that knowledge is power in any field, and thus continuous learning is necessary to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field.
Despite the progress made in recent years, it remains a struggle for women to be taken seriously in architecture. Therefore, it’s crucial to have a stoic approach, remain focused on the goals, and be resilient even in the face of challenges.
The spaces we inhabit not only reflect our design choices but also have a significant impact on our mental and physical well-being. To create safe and nurturing spaces, governments can implement policies such as childcare facilities and ensuring the safety of women who have to work late hours to meet deadlines.
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