To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day we brought together people from across our practice for a discussion on what more can we do to forge a gender-equal discipline and society? Read on to explore their responses.
What does International Women’s Day mean to you? Why do we still need to celebrate it?
“I think it’s still necessary because we’re not quite there yet in terms of gender equality and we need to continue to have these discussions so that we can think about how we attract more women to the property and construction industry until it’s accessible to all.” Chithra Marsh, Associate Director.
“For me, it’s about celebrating our differences and who we are as individuals. Having a day where we can dedicate some time and thought to do that can only be a positive thing.” Samantha Gill, Architect.
“I agree, it’s a reminder of how far we’ve come as women and it’s a celebration of that. It’s also an opportunity to be mindful that, in the UK, we’ve made great strides in terms of gender equality, but elsewhere in the world women continue to face considerable challenges and we all need to play a role in tackling this.” Grace Avery, Studio Manager.
What can the industry do to help overcome challenges women in the workplace continue to face and how can we help women pursue more leadership positions?
“I think in a male-dominated industry it can sometimes be difficult for women to find their voice and that can be aided by having both men and women in senior positions in the workplace creating opportunities for everyone to be heard. I also think as women we need to ask ourselves how can we help men help us. I think in doing so, we can allow both men and women to feel more empowered.” Samantha Gill, Architect.
“Having support from managers and senior staff is really important. When I’ve been on-site, my line manager has encouraged conversations to be led by me and directed at me, creating that path for me to have influence.” Emily Green, Architect.
“Having a balance of gender is important not just in architecture, but society more generally. The world can’t improve if you just have a single point of view, it needs to bring together diverse people, personalities and voices. Women add a different perspective and if you have a diversity of talent and individuals within the industry then I think you get diversity in design and architecture, which helps enrich the environments in which we live.” Chithra Marsh, Associate Director.
“As a practice, we talk about designing places for people. For this reason, it’s important to have every type of person represented within the profession so that we can create buildings and spaces that are inclusive and respond to the needs of all.” Francesca Mainman, Communications Manager.
“Something that I’m really interested in is trying to understand why things have been designed in a certain way and what data or information it has been based on. More often than not, you find that it's been based on the proportions or requirements of men. I think that needs to be challenged and one way of doing that is by having a greater number of women in the profession. There is so much in terms of design that needs to be considered from a gender point of view and there’s so much influence women can have on the way that places are designed for everybody.” Kimberley Corrall, Senior Architect
“I’ve predominantly worked under female leadership and only recently realised quite how unusual that is by speaking to my peers. Having had that experience, I can say that it is really important that more women enter architecture because when insecurities have cropped up early in my career, I had someone there who I could talk to and who could relate to my experiences.” Samantha Knights, Architect
“Since I started in architecture when 1 in 10 students of architecture were female, our industry has seen a gradual change (although there is still a long way to go). Today, our office has over 40% female members of staff. Inequality and prejudice in all forms still exist, not just because of your gender, but our world is changing for the better and so much more for everyone’s contribution.” Buttress Studio Principal.
What is the most important piece of advice you would give to young women at the start of their career?
“Regardless of gender, I think that it’s important that you recognise your Unique Selling Point and be proud of it. Understand how your differences can add value to the workplace.” Samantha Knights, Architect.
“I would say that it’s a very versatile career and you can find your place in the industry based on whatever you’re passionate about.” Chithra Marsh, Associate Director.
“Find a place where you’re able to get the support and opportunities that you need, and that offers a culture that is right for you.” Kimberley Corrall, Architect.
“One of the most important things I’ve learnt in my career is being open to opportunities when they present themselves. At times it can be daunting to take on new challenges, and you might not feel entirely ready, but the times when I’ve pushed myself are when I’ve learnt and developed the most.” Francesca Mainman, Communications Manager.